Look no further.

Today, I’ll share the top programs available and show you how to choose between them.

So, if you’re ready to become a certified business coach, read on!

The best business coaching certification programs 

The best business coaching certification programs are: 

• Executive Coaching Certification Program (iPEC)
• Leadership and Performance Coaching Certification (Brown University) 
• Executive Coaching Certification (Center for Executive Coaching) 
• Leadership Coaching (Harvard University) 
• Business Coach Certification (University of Houston) 
• WABC Certified Business Coach (WABC) 
• Leadership coaching (MIT)

But before we dive into the business coaching certification programs, let’s talk about one of the most common misconceptions out there.

You don’t need to be certified to become a coach in most niches.

And that’s true for business coaching, too.

The truth is, you only need a few things to be a great coach.

And that’s experience in the field, relevant knowledge, and, most importantly, the ability to help people reach their goals.

In fact, people rarely pay attention to a coach’s qualifications or certifications.

Don’t believe me? 

I didn’t get a certification when I started my coaching business.

But I did have over a decade of experience in my niche and what it takes to keep people motivated while they work toward their goals.

Guess what? I still don’t have a certification.

But my results speak for themselves – my coaching business scaled to six figures in just a year.

I talk more about why you don’t need a certification in this guide.

That said, there’s no downside to getting a business coaching certification.

In fact, it might be a great choice if your ideal clients prefer certified coaches.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the best business coaching certification programs out there. 

The ones I’ve listed here are in no particular order – they’re all great options!

Disclaimer: I haven’t taken these business coaching certification programs. Instead, I’m recommending them because of their reputation and reviews.

Executive Coaching Certification Program

iPEC

This program is split into two phases.

In the first, you’ll learn iPEC’s Core Energy Coaching methodology and become certified to use the Energy Leadership Index. During this phase, you’ll take part in three live training modules that last three days each.

In the second phase, you’ll receive 40 hours of on-demand niche-specific training and study The COR.E Dynamics curriculum, which helps clients understand the 10 Core Disciplines of High Potential and Performance. 

Altogether, the program takes about a year to finish. The first phase takes 3-4 months to complete, while the second takes 7-8 months to complete.

iPEC has trained leaders at companies like NASA, Coca-Cola, and Deloitte, so rest assured you’ll be in good company.

Key features:

• You’ll receive three industry-recognized certifications
• 200 downloadable assignments, exercises, and templates
• On-demand training
• Access to the 10 Core Disciplines of High Potential and Performance framework
• Includes self-study, webinars, and live interactive modules
• Flexible sessions and training

Length: Up to a year

Delivery: Hybrid

Price: $13,395 if paid in full. Payment plans are available.

ICF accredited: Yes

Leadership and Performance Coaching Certification

Brown University

Yes, even Ivy League schools offer business coaching certification programs.

The curriculum of this eight-month program is primarily focused on teaching coaches to help their clients by using innovative solutions, critical thinking, and better decision-making. 

There are also modules on team and relationship building and effective communication.

But you’ll also get hands-on experience with the basics of coaching, including the skills, mindsets, ethics, and ICF core competencies you’ll need to be successful. 

Throughout the course, you’ll have access to a mentor who will provide you with feedback in both group and individual settings.

Key features:

• Concepts drawn from developmental psychology, neuroscience, and leadership effectiveness research
• Group mentor calls
• Individual mentor feedback
• Self-paced learning between sessions
• Access to The Business of Coaching and Diversity & Inclusion in Coaching webinars
• Online, hybrid, or in-person options available

Length: 8 months

Delivery: Online, in-person, or hybrid

Price: $10,495 (online) or $11,495 (in-person or hybrid)

ICF accredited: Yes

Executive Coaching Certification

Center for Executive Coaching

The Center for Executive Coaching offers several different business coaching certification programs.

The Core Distance Learning Program is the best for new coaches. 

It will teach you coaching skills and methodologies and connect you with a global network of professionals. 

Lessons include Limiting Belief Coaching, Employee Engagement Methodology, and 360-degree Verbal Assessment.

The best part? You can take it at your own pace, and most coaches are certified within four months.

But I recommend the Full Executive Coaching Training Program if you’re looking for something more comprehensive. 

It’s comprehensive, which means that it includes everything you’d learn in the Core Distance Learning Program, as well as the necessary ICF coaching hours and online seminars.

Key features: 

• Multiple business coaching certification programs are available, including International Coaching Federation Certification, Team Coaching Certification, and Programs for Seasoned Coaches
• Programs can be self-paced or taken in real-time
• Interactive classes 
• ICF mentor coaching available
• Comprehensive tools
• Online intensive seminars available

Length: Two to eight months (varies by program)

Delivery: In-person and online

Price: $5,390 for the Core Distance Learning Program if paid upfront

ICF accredited: Yes

Leadership Coaching

Harvard University

If you’re looking to get a business coaching certification from one of the world’s most prestigious and well-known universities, Harvard’s Leadership Coaching might be for you.

The program was designed specifically for professionals who want to start using a coaching approach with their direct reports. It’s not for existing coaches.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn new ways to improve employee performance, make better decisions, and overcome workplace obstacles.

Modules include coaching engagement design, assessments, and core coaching principles.

The best part? It’s a quick program—it can be completed in two days on campus or four days online.

The 2024 sessions start on June 3rd, August 7th, September 30th, and December 11th. 

Key features:

• Extremely short
• Taught by a leadership coach with 15+ years of experience 
• Post-program private consultations are available
• Modules for using assessments, adapting your style for individuals, and developing a coaching mindset
• Includes a Certificate of Participation from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education

Length: 2 days (in-person) or 4 days (online)

Delivery: Online or in-person

Price: $2,600 (online) or $2,865 (in-person)

ICF accredited: No

Business Coach Certification 

University of Houston

In this business coaching certification program, you’ll learn to analyze client needs, measure results, and use your own business expertise to enhance client transformation.

Lessons include ​​What Does a Business Coach Do?, The Coaching Triangle, and Working with Clients.

But this course isn’t just about learning the ins and outs of being a business coach.

By the end of the course, you will also have the entrepreneurial knowledge you need to establish and scale a successful coaching business.

It’s important to note that the course is designed to be hands-off, meaning that you can finish it without external help. That said, you’ll have access to a platform for support.

Key features:

• Modules include The Coaching Triangle, Measuring Results, and Coaching Challenges
• Coaching resources available
• Open enrollment 
• Self-paced 
• Opportunities for questions and discussions

Length: You have 6 months to complete the course, but you can apply for an extension if needed

Delivery: Online

Price: $1,395. Payment plans are available.

ICF accredited: No

WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC)

WABC

The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches offers several different business coaching certified programs. 

But for a comprehensive experience, the Certified Business Coach (CBC) program is your best option.

By the end of the program, you’ll have a better understanding of coaching theories and philosophies, be able to support more business goals and objectives, and create better coaching plans.

It’s important to note this business coaching certification program is only for experienced coaches and leaders. 

You’re eligible to participate if:

• You already have business coaching experience, whether it’s internal or external
• You’re a senior leader or manager, are moving to a development role, or stepping away to be a business coach
• You’re a consultant who wants to enhance your coaching
• You have at least seven years of experience in business

You can find out more about the prerequisites here.

Key features:

• WABC is the only accreditation model designed specifically for business coaching
• WABC membership included
• Access to the global WABC network
• Three program options: Full-length, fast track, and assessment only

Length: 6-9 months

Delivery: Online

Price: Not publicly available

ICF accredited: Yes

Leadership Coaching

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT’s Sloan School of Management is one of the best in the country, and this is your chance to learn directly from its faculty.

Over the course of two days, you’ll learn how to use MIT’s 4-CAPS+ Leadership Framework, which is focused on understanding, cultivating relationships, setting goals and crafting a clear vision for a business. 

Other topics include Negotiation & Communication, Organizations & Leadership, and Strategy & Innovation.

The course is open to most senior managers with leadership responsibility, including CEOs, COOs, Presidents, Directors, vice presidents, and corporate strategists.

Key features:

• Two-day in-person intensive on the MIT campus
• Group and paired activities
• Participation in an x360 Leadership development survey
• 90-minute private coaching session with an MIT executive coach
• Certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management upon completion

Length: 2 days

Delivery: In-person

Price: $5,100

ICF accredited: No

So, those are the best business coaching certification programs available. 

How do you choose between them?

I’ll tell you next, so keep reading!

How to choose the right business coaching certification program 

There’s a lot to think about when you’re deciding on a business coaching certification program.

Let’s start at the very beginning: Choosing one from an accredited body.

Choose an ICF accredited body

You probably noticed that I specified whether or not a business coaching certification program was ICF-accredited in the certifications we just talked about.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the most well-respected organization in the coaching industry.

There are three certification levels: Associate Certified Coach, Professional Certified Coach, and Master Certified Coach.

ACC requires at least 60 hours of education and 100 hours of coaching.

PCC requires at least 125 hours of education and 500 hours of coaching.

And MCC requires at least 200 hours of education, 2,500 hours of coaching, and a PCC credential.

Each certification requires 10 hours of Mentor Coaching.

That’s a lot of education and experience – so you can typically trust a program that’s accredited by the ICF. Plus, completing one will instantly add to your credibility.

But ICF accreditations aren’t the only option!

There’s also the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, which I mentioned in the previous section. It’s the only accreditation program designed specifically for business coaching.

But you don’t have to choose an accredited program – shorter online courses or courses designed by a coach are always options. 

Steps to choose the right certification

When you’re trying to choose a business coaching certification program, there are a few things to consider. What’s your time frame?

Business coaching certification programs can last anywhere from a couple of days to a year or longer.

So think about how much time you want to spend studying.

If you’d rather get certified and start your coaching business sooner, choose a shorter course over a more detailed one that might take months.

Just keep in mind that short courses don’t typically include practice coaching sessions or access to experts.

Does it work for your preferred learning style?

Business coaching certification programs are taught in several different ways.

So choose one that works for you. 

Do you want to learn in person or online? Or both?

And would you prefer to go at your own pace or follow a schedule and attend live discussions?

There’s no right or wrong answer – it all depends on what fits with your schedule and lifestyle. Does the course cover what you want to learn?

There’s so much to learn when it comes to business coaching.

So, as you choose a business coaching certification program, think about what’s most important to you.

That includes the coaching process, philosophies, and skills. Does it align with the kind of coach you want to be?

Of course, some programs are comprehensive, which is a good choice if you want a more well-rounded experience.

How much does it cost?

Budget plays a huge part in choosing a business coaching certification.

I’ve seen courses that cost as little as $1,000 and as much as $15,000. 

The price point you’ll be working with depends on the kind of program you want to take. 

The longer a course, the more expensive it will be.

And oftentimes, an in-person course will cost more than a hybrid or online course.

My best advice? Whatever you do, don’t take a free course – they’re not worth the time you’ll spend on them. Who’s teaching the course?

Finally, are you learning from an expert or someone who thinks they’re an expert?

Do your research to find out who’s leading the course, what their experience is, and what their teaching style is.

Remember, you don’t have to get a business coaching certification to become a business coach.

You can always get started and take one later.

Speaking of becoming a business coach, let’s talk about how to get your business off the ground.

How to become a business coach 

You must take three steps to become a business coach, regardless of whether you have a business coaching certification or not.

Step 1: Choose your niche

The only way to stand out from the crowd is by telling your ideal clients exactly how you’ll help them.

Take my niche, for example.

I help employees find greater fulfillment by teaching them to launch their own businesses.

There are tons of niches for business coaches, including:

• Startups 
• Family businesses
• Online businesses
• Service businesses
• Non-profit businesses

Here’s a list of 100+ niches to get you started.

Step 2: Create and price a coaching package

I always recommend starting with a three-month program that promises a specific outcome.

Why?

Because it tells people exactly what they’ll get out of working with you.

From there, you’ll have to name your price.

If you’ve never been a business coach before, a three-month package for $1,500 is a good place to start.

That might seem low, but hear me out.

A lower-priced package is a win-win for everyone involved. Your clients get the transformation they want, and you get to practice your coaching – both for a reasonable price!

Plus, you can always increase your price later.

I talk more about pricing your package in this guide.

Step 3: Get clients

The key to getting clients?

By starting small and focusing on just one or two marketing strategies. 

Believe it or not, your network is the best place to find clients. I bet at least one person you know could benefit from business coaching.

Another great way to catch a potential client’s attention is to get in front of your audience through guest posting or podcasting.

And finally, take advantage of the reach of social media with platforms like Instagram or Reddit. 

Sharing valuable advice and insights will make you a trusted source when you pitch your services.

Of course, there’s more to it than that. I’ll tell you everything you need to know in my full guide to becoming a business coach.

What’s next? 

There you have it!

A complete list of the best business coaching certifications on the market right now.

And remember, you don’t have to get certified to build a multiple-six-figure coaching business.

You just need the right kind of knowledge and experience.

Take it from me.

I built my first business with only the skills I’d learned at my job – while still working full-time!

By the end of my first year, I’d made $100,000.

And I’ve helped hundreds of my students do the same.

If you’re ready to build a business that can replace your 9-5, I’ll show you how in this FREE PDF:

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Read more:

The Biggest Benefits of Business Coaching 

The Benefits of Coaching in the Workplace and for Employees

Business Coach For Coaches: How to Work With One

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Today, you’ll learn how to use AI to save time and help more clients achieve results. (Plus, I’ll also share when you shouldn’t rely on AI.

Ready? Here’s how to use AI for coaches.

What are the benefits of using AI in your coaching business?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, can help run and grow your coaching business by helping you: 

• Manage your time
• Get data-driven insights 
• Scale your business

Let’s look at each of these. 

Manage your time

Above all, it saves you valuable time by automating administrative tasks.

AI-powered scheduling tools like Motion simplify managing your calendar and eliminate all the back and forth.

Get valuable insights

Another benefit of AI for coaches is getting valuable insights that make your coaching more effective.

With a tool like Otter.ai, you can transcribe client sessions to analyze and identify patterns and areas for improvement. 

But you can do more with that data than just helping individual clients. 

The information you gather will help you find new ways to improve your coaching, business decisions, and marketing efforts.

Scale your business

Finally, AI for coaches makes it easier to scale your business and grow your client base without compromising quality.

For example, tools like Sana can engage with clients and answer frequently asked questions.

However, I do want to caveat before getting into any tools that you shouldn’t rely on AI.

AI isn’t perfect and things like the content it creates is very generic. 

AI also doesn’t have intrapersonal or creative skills. 

So look at AI more as a helpful tool than something to outsource your entire business to.

Here’s what I mean: 

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of AI for coaches, let’s talk about the best tools.

6 best AI coaching tools

There are hundreds of AI tools on the market – and the industry keeps growing.

So how do you choose one?

By thinking about what you need, whether it’s help with writing, managing administrative tasks, or something else entirely.

Here are some of my favorite AI tools for coaches.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT instantly creates responses based on the input it receives.

For instance, when I asked it to define coaching, I got this response in seconds:

“Coaching is about having someone by your side who listens, asks questions, and helps you reach your goals, whether they’re personal or professional.”

ChatGPT can create new client materials, brainstorm blog ideas, access coaching frameworks, or generate marketing content.

And much more. 

But here’s the catch.

The quality of the answers you get depends on your prompt. The more engaging it is, the better the response.

So make sure yours are clear and detailed, ask specific questions, and provide context. 

Let’s say I was looking for help creating a new assessment tool for my clients. I would use a prompt like this:

“Develop a set of thought-provoking questions for my assessment tool, aiding clients in identifying strengths and areas for growth in personal and professional areas. Questions should encourage reflection on achievements, challenges, skills, and aspirations to facilitate insights into development needs.”

This prompt is effective because it communicates what I’m looking for and offers guidance on the content I need.

Here’s what it gave me:

However, even if you use specific prompts, ChatGPT will only be able to generate a response based on responses already available.

To create truly great work, you need to sit down and improve its answer with your own personal experience and personality.  

Try it

DALL-E

At first glance, an image generator like DALL-E might not seem like an AI for coaches.But every coach needs engaging visuals.

They help you stand out, attract new clients, and keep your current audience engaged.

DALL-E can create any type of image, including social media posts, coaching aids like infographics, and branding materials.

Like ChatGPT, the images you get from DALL-E depend on your prompt. The more specific, the better.

But here’s the thing.

While DALL-E is an inherently creative tool, its knowledge is limited to everyday objects and specific situations.

So, when you write your prompt, remember to keep your requests within the realm of possibility.

For example, let’s say you wanted DALL-E to create your social media posts.

A great prompt would be:

“Design compelling visuals for my coaching business’s social media. Include growth, empowerment, and positivity themes that resonate with our audience and reflect personal development and self-discovery. Images should be high-resolution and suitable for all social media platforms.”

Then, you also have to specify what types of images you want, for what platform, and their sizes. 

This type of prompt works because it’s specific.

Try it

Otter.ai

Otter is the kind of AI for coaches that allows you to focus entirely on sessions instead of worrying about taking notes.

How?

By converting your conversation into text in real-time, taking valuable notes, and even creating a list of action items.

It will also provide you with a full transcript and a summary that touches on key points at the end of each session.

It’s great for more than one-on-one coaching calls, though. It’s also a great tool for workshops, live online courses, team meetings, and group coaching.

Plus, you can use this tool to improve your coaching. 

By studying the summaries, notes, and transcripts, you’ll be able to identify your coaching patterns, refine your techniques, and find areas to improve.

The best part? Otter.ai will automatically join your Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls.

Try it

Jasper

Jasper is an AI writing assistant that can help you write website content and blog posts, create worksheets and exercises, and generate headlines or social media posts.

It also has a functionality to improve what you’ve already written, generate blog post ideas if you’re stuck, and optimize your content for SEO.

But here’s what really stands out about Jasper.

If you’re having trouble writing a prompt, its prompt library has over 500, including:

• Create a landing page that captures the attention of my [target persona] and drives them to take [desired action] by utilizing persuasive language, compelling visuals, and a clear call to action.
• Generate a headline that summarizes the benefits of [product/service] for [target audience].
• Can you help me write an email newsletter for my business, targeting [target audience] and promoting our new service [service name]?

There are also 50+ AI templates available.

Try it

Happy Scribe

Happy Scribe converts audio and video into editable text using speech recognition technology.

Sure, this might not seem like a necessary type of AI for coaches at first glance, but there are several ways to use it in your business.

You can transcribe coaching sessions, repurpose content from presentations or courses, or add captions to your videos to enhance accessibility.

Like Otter.ai, it allows you to reflect on your coaching sessions and gain new insights into your style, interactions, and techniques.

Upload your audio file, video, or URL on Happy Scribe, and it will automatically transcribe it in minutes. 

Try it

InVideo

InVideo is the go-to AI for coaches looking to create videos that connect with clients in an engaging way.

It can turn text prompts into videos, edit videos, make slideshows, create faceless videos, and even write scripts.

You can also clone your voice for more personalized narration. 

But why does that matter for coaches?

Because it can be used to create videos used for social media, marketing, and more. 

There’s no software to download, either. Just write prompts that outline the video type, duration, platform, language, and desired tone.

And if you need to edit it, you can do it manually or by entering another prompt.

Try it

Now that you know what the best AI tools for coaches are, let’s discuss the dos and don’ts of using it in your business.

How to use AI in your coaching business

Here’s the thing about AI for coaches.

You can use it for many things in your business. But not everything.

Let’s start with what it can help with.

Ways to use AI in your business 

Here are some of the best ways to use AI for coaches: 

• Chatbots: Putting an interactive, AI-powered chatbot on your website is a great way to engage with visitors, help them quickly get answers to the most frequently asked questions, and provide basic coaching information.
• Virtual assistants: Virtual assistants will help free up your time by automating administrative and repetitive tasks like scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and managing client communication.
• Content creation and personalization: You can use AI for content creation and personalization in two ways. The first is to help brainstorm and generate blog posts, articles, and social media content that will drive interest in your services. It can also help create the kind of personalized content and tools that will help your clients reach their goals more quickly. That includes things like coaching plans, goal-setting frameworks, and progress-tracking templates. 
• Data analysis: AI makes analyzing client data like assessments and transcripts easier, which helps you identify patterns and better anticipate their needs or overcome roadblocks. But it can also help you find ways to improve your coaching techniques.
• Voice analysis: Being able to gauge a client’s tone, sentiment, and emotional state during a coaching session provides clear insight into their mindset. Having that sort of understanding will empower you to change your coaching approach as needed and ultimately make your coaching more effective.
• Accessibility: Using AI-powered language translation can be a great way to support clients from different backgrounds. Plus, offering transcripts or captions can help clients who might have difficulty hearing.
• Skill development: AI tools can help you create personalized skill development tools, resources, and interactive modules that support each client’s journey.

How not to use AI in your business

While the benefits of AI for coaches are great, it’s important not to become reliant on it.

Here are a few things to remember about AI for coaches.

AI isn’t a replacement

Remember what makes coaching special: the personal connection between you and your client.

AI can’t replace that (or even replicate it).

Because no matter how good a tool’s answers or suggestions are, it can’t offer the empathy or understanding that are so crucial to coaching.

AI for coaches should foster that connection rather than replace it.

AI is biased

At the end of the day, AI is the data it’s been trained on.

If there’s any bias in that data, it could impact the answers it gives you. 

For example, if the training data is skewed toward specific demographics, it might discriminate against others.

So keep a close eye on recommendations and ensure they’re fair. Otherwise, AI could harm rather than help your clients’ progress.

AI isn’t always safe 

Look, I know the assessments, notes, and feedback AI provides are hugely helpful.

But your clients trust you to help them while safeguarding their privacy.

And the reality is their data and privacy aren’t always safe in the hands of AI tools. A company could suffer a data breach or even sell it.

Maintain client trust

Honesty is a two-way street in a client-coach relationship, so you need to be transparent about using AI for coaches in your own business.

That includes explaining why you’re using it, how it enhances coaching, and the steps you’re taking to keep their information safe.

This is the only way clients will be able to give informed consent.

And, if at any point they want you to stop using AI, you’ll need to withdraw and delete their data immediately.

With all of this in mind, what does the future of AI for coaches look like? 

Keep reading to find out!

What is the future of coaching with AI? 

Ultimately, the future of AI lies in how it complements rather than replaces coaches.

Only you have the experience, creativity, and empathy needed to be a great coach in your niche.

AI should amplify those qualities.

So, look at it as a means of becoming a better coach. 

If you embrace AI to elevate your skills and unique coaching approach, you’ll create more long-lasting, mentor-like connections with each client.

I talk more about why AI isn’t going to take over your business anytime soon: 

What’s next? 

There you have it!

A complete guide to AI for coaches.

Are you ready to create a six-figure coaching business using AI for coaches?

I’ll show you how in this free PDF: 

Want to Build a 6-Figure Coaching Business So You Can Achieve More Freedom?

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GET INSTANT ACCESS

When you sign up, you’ll also receive regular updates on building a successful online business.

Read more:

Best Coaching Templates

Top Coaching Software Tools

The Best Tools for Coaches

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You’re in the right place.

Because today, I’m going to walk you through cohort-based courses, show you how to build one, and give you a few examples to get you started.

Ready? Let’s go!

Discover the top 3 reasons most courses fail

(plus how to fix them so you succeed)

Get the PDF Now

What are cohort-based courses?

Cohort-based courses have a shared learning experience. Simply put, students take a distance-learning course together in real time and participate in live discussions.

They are a bit like a traditional classroom setting. But since they typically take place online, they’re available to anyone, anywhere. 

And if a student can’t attend a session, there are often playback options.

There’s not any one format that cohort-based courses have to stick to.

For example, I used to offer one called Employee to Entrepreneur Live. This course was based on my flagship course, ETE (a fully self-study course).

But instead of having students move through a syllabus together, the course was self-study with a group coaching element.

In addition to the course material itself, students received: 

• Dozens of live group coaching calls
• Lessons from business experts
• Support and feedback in an exclusive ETE group

Basically, people went through the program to learn how to set up a business as fast as possible. 

The best part about cohort-based courses? 

You can teach as little or as many people as you want – I used to host hundreds in ETE Live.

At the same time, self-paced and cohort-based courses may sound like they offer the same kind of learning experience, but they are actually quite different. 

I’ll break down the differences next, so keep reading!

What are the differences between self-paced and cohort-based courses?

Cohort-based courses aren’t the same thing as self-paced courses. 

Let’s talk about some of the differences.

Learning style

Collaboration is key in cohort-based courses. There’s an emphasis on group interaction and progressing through the syllabus together.

In self-paced courses, students work through the course at their own speed and in their own style. If they want to spend more time on one topic or section, they can. Or they can skip it altogether.

Engagement 

Engagement is much higher in cohort-based courses than in self-paced courses.

Why?

Because students take cohort-based courses alongside others.

This means they have the chance to interact during live sessions, offer accountability, and create a community.

On the other hand, self-paced courses don’t offer any real-time interaction, so it’s easy for students to check out instead of engaging with the material.

Schedule

Students on cohort-based courses follow a fixed schedule. 

However, self-paced courses allow students to learn on their own schedule without having to worry about live sessions or deadlines. 

While that flexibility is good for some, others might struggle to stay motivated and on track.

Which leads me to the next difference.

Completion rates

Because cohort-based courses are taught live and according to a schedule, they see a much higher completion rate than self-paced courses.

According to an MIT study, self-paced courses have a completion rate of just 5% to 10%.

However, 90% of students finish cohort-based courses. 

Why?

Because the benefits of cohort-based courses motivate students to stay engaged. 

What are the benefits of cohort-based courses? That’s what we’ll look at next.

What are the benefits of cohort-based learning?

Here are some of the best benefits of cohort-based courses:

• Community support: In cohort-based courses, working alongside other students in live sessions, discussions, and group activities creates a sense of community. This helps students stay engaged, motivated, and accountable.
• Engagement: Because cohort-based courses require students to actively participate in them, students stay highly engaged. Most students (90%) say they feel engaged in cohort-based courses compared to just 60% of students taking self-paced programs. Higher engagement leads to better understanding and a greater sense of fulfillment. 

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• Increased motivation: In cohort-based courses, it’s not just instructors who motivate students. When the students interact with each other, they create a supportive learning environment that drives motivation. In fact, 85% of students say they feel motivated in cohort-based courses.
• Accountability: When you take part in cohort-based courses, you’re working alongside other students who count on you to contribute to discussions and activities. That kind of responsibility will keep you accountable throughout the course and make it harder to slack off or choose not to complete it.
• Knowledge retention: Studies have found that cohort-based courses are 41% better for retention. Why? Because students are actively engaging with the material and collaborating with their peers, all of which lead to a deeper understanding.
• Audience insights: Students aren’t the only ones who learn a thing or two in cohort-based courses. As the course creator, you can learn a lot from your audience and their feedback, including what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be changed. This is especially helpful if you want to turn it into a self-study course.

If you’ve been thinking about creating your own cohort-based courses, keep reading. 

I’ll show you how to do it in just a few steps.

How to create successful cohort-based courses in 7 steps 

When it comes to creating successful cohort-based courses that sell, there are a few things you need to do.

And it all starts with choosing the right topic.

Pick a profitable topic 

The key to finding a profitable topic is figuring out your niche.

Your niche is critical – it’s what will help you instantly stand out from the cohort-based courses already on the market.

I know choosing a profitable niche seems like a tall order, but it’s as simple as solving a problem that people are willing to pay for.

You only have to ask yourself two questions: 

What skills do I have? And what do people want?

Start by writing down all your skills, whether you use them in your day job or a hobby – those are your potential topics.

Then, work out which of these is the most profitable.

To do that, you’ll have to carry out some market research.

Are there any courses already being offered on the topic? If not, it’s likely not a profitable idea.

Remember, the problem you’re solving doesn’t have to be new. You just have to solve it faster or cheaper than other courses.

It’s also worth checking where your audience hangs out. Think places like Reddit or Facebook groups. 

There, you will see what your audience is talking about and uncover the problems that need solving. 

Not sure where to start when it comes to your niche? I’ve put together a list of over 200 ideas in this guide.

Structure your course 

Once you’ve landed on your topic, it’s time to start building the course.

But before you can think about the content, you have to consider the framework.

It’s best to create an instructional design storyboard to help you figure out what the course needs to cover for students to achieve their full potential.

What did their life look like before your course, and what will it look like after? What will they have to accomplish to get there?

Think of it like helping students get from point A to point B. The milestones your students have to reach will serve as your modules (which we’ll talk about next).

Once you’ve got the bones of your course, it’s time to think about a schedule and find the best name for your course.

You’ll also need to decide on the format.

Most cohort-based courses are delivered by video, but you can also use slides, reading materials, or other visuals like screenshots or PDFs. 

Create an outline

With the overarching structure of the course in mind, it’s time to create an outline that includes all of the relevant information.

The modules and lessons in your outline should be driven by the course’s ultimate goal – the transformation that your students are working toward.

Think back to the storyboard you created. The milestones will act as your modules.

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Those milestones will serve as the course sections, and the information within them will be the lessons. 

Lessons, which have video, audio, and images, are small and easy to understand.

Just don’t include too much, or you’ll run the risk of overwhelming your students.

I recommend keeping your course on the smaller side – 4-8 modules with 3-7 lessons each.

Here’s an easy template to follow:

• Course name
• Course description, including the learning objectives and end goal
• Course schedule
• Modules
• Lessons
• Bonuses, if you’re including any
• Assessments, if you’re including any

You can learn more about creating a course outline in this guide.

Remember, your outline is just an overarching look at your course. It doesn’t have to be final!

In fact, it probably won’t be – it took me years of feedback and edits before any of my online courses were perfect.

Want to learn more about outlining your course? Check out this video:

Choose the right platform 

You’ll also need a place to host your course. 

For that, you have three options.

1. Host on your own website

You can host and sell your course on your own website if you have one.

WordPress offers several plugins, like AccessAlly, that make building and hosting a course easy. You’ll also have complete control of your content and pricing.

However, you’ll need some tech experience to host on your own website.

2. Use online course platforms

If you don’t have a website, online course platforms are the next best option for creating cohort-based courses. 

Teaching platforms like Thinkific or Teachable are easy to use and designed to help you create a professional-looking course.

There are also cohort-based course platforms, like Eduflow. 

3. Use online course marketplaces

You can also use online course marketplaces such as LinkedIn Learning, Maven, or Coursera, but there are some drawbacks to keep in mind.

While you might reach a larger audience, you won’t own that audience. You also won’t be able to control your pricing and will have to follow the marketplace’s rules around format, length, and style.

Create a price package & presell 

Figuring out a price is one of the hardest parts of launching cohort-based courses.

Your price hinges on a few things: 

• Results
• Target audience
• Your experience
• Course features
• The cost of creating the course

Your first cohort-based course can be priced anywhere from $197 to $497. 

And after you’ve gotten a few students, you can raise your rates to $1,000 or higher.

My best advice? Don’t overthink it.

I talk more about pricing cohort-based courses here.

Here’s the thing about selling your course.

You don’t have to wait until it’s finished. In fact, you shouldn’t!

Pre-selling your course will help you validate the idea and make sure there’s a market for your topic.

All you have to do to pre-sell your course is:

• Create a course sales page
• Outline the course
• Create your first module
• Launch it

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Launch your course 

As you gear up to launch your course, don’t just focus on what it looks like or costs.

Instead, make sure you’re offering content that’s valuable, relatable, and stands out from other courses.

How?

By including interactive sessions, collaborative group activities, and plenty of opportunities for students to engage with and ask questions about the material.

When you’re ready to launch your course, choose a plan that works for where you are in your course creation journey.

You can do a no-list launch using paid ads, affiliates, or your own audience. Or, you can use all three.

Dial-in launches are great for creators with existing email lists.

Or, if you’ve already launched a course, you can scale up.

Get testimonials

A testimonial is a review of your course.

And they’re incredibly powerful for cohort-based courses.

Why?

Because they act as social proof – in other words, people are more likely to buy a product that other people have vouched for.

A good testimonial will answer two important questions:

Why did someone like your course? And what did it help them achieve?

In other words: “This course helped me _____, so I could _____.”

A big misconception about testimonials is that you can only get them from paying clients.

However, you can get them from anyone you’ve helped! 

At the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not someone’s bought your course. It’s about the ways you’ve helped people.

You’ll find a complete guide to asking for testimonials (and scripts to use!) in this guide.

Now that we’ve talked about how to launch cohort-based courses, let’s take a look at a few successful ones.

Top cohort-based course examples 

There are thousands of cohort-based courses out there that cover any topic you can think of.

I’ve seen courses on personal finance, weight loss, money-saving hacks at Disney, and more.

Here are a few examples.

ETE Live

Like I mentioned earlier, I used to offer a cohort-based course called Employee to Entrepreneur Live to hundreds of students at a time.

It was all about helping people launch a successful and scalable business that could replace their 9-5 jobs and offer them more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment.

Technically, it wasn’t a fully cohort-based course.

Instead, it was a self-study course that also included group coaching, guest speakers, and access to an exclusive community.

And, if a student couldn’t attend a session for whatever reason, they always had access to video recordings.

Newbie Real Estate Investing

My student, Ryan, built a real estate portfolio that earns him more than six figures a year.

And with interest in real estate investing on the rise, he knew there was potential for a cohort-based course.

So, on top of his one-on-one coaching offer, he launched a group coaching mastermind.

In the mastermind, students help each other find different ways to solve real estate problems and offer multiple perspectives.

Coursera

Coursera is a course marketplace with thousands of courses from all kinds of creators.

And now, students can use it to earn certificates from universities worldwide, including universities like the University of Illinois and the University of Colorado.

While some are self-study, a good number are cohort-based courses that include live session classes and take up to 10 hours per week.

Here are some of the courses currently available:

• Digital Marketing Graduate Certificate from the Gies College of Business
• Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship University Certificate from HEC Paris
• Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Graduate Certificate from the University of Illinois
• Digital Transformation from Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College
• Business Essentials University Certificate from IE Business School

Next steps 

There you have it!

Everything you need to know about cohort-based courses, including how to launch your own.

I’ve helped hundreds of students launch their own successful six- and seven-figure courses.

But I see the three same mistakes get made time and time again.

Want to find out what they are – and how to avoid them?

I’ll tell you in my FREE guide. Get it here:

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What is an Online Course? Definition, Examples & Benefits

How to Create an Evergreen Course to Sell Online

The Best Course Creation Software and Tools

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You…

• Don’t love your 9-5
• Want to make a bigger impact
• Like the idea of working from anywhere
• Want to have virtually no limit to how much you can make 

Sound accurate?

In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to make money as a content creator so you can live the life you want.

Let’s dive in.

How much does a content creator make?

Your earnings as a content creator can vary based on your chosen medium, niche, location, and more. 

The average salary is $89,128.

But keep in mind… 

You don’t need a huge following to make money as a content creator – especially if you focus on high-value offers like coaching or courses. 

Imagine 300 people have signed up to your email list. 

Of those, 1% buy your coaching package at $1,500. 

With 3 clients, you’d earn $4,500.

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Here’s another example: Let’s say you start a YouTube channel and want to use it to maximize your income. In that case, you could join a platform like Patreon. 

That’s exactly what the YouTuber behind The Ukulele Teacher does – and he earns at least $5,400 per month from Patreon alone for his niche content.

I myself run a creator business with content on my blog, emails, YouTube, and other social media. 

My business is an eight-figure business. Now, it DID take me time to get here but that just goes to show there are all types of creator businesses out there. 

So, remember…

How much you earn as a content creator depends on many factors and varies wildly.

According to data from Glassdoor, here’s how much a few different types of US-based creators earn on average:

• YouTubers: $62k–$116k per year
• Bloggers: $33k–$36k per year
• Podcasters: $101k–$188k per year

But overall, US-based content creators make between $51k and $95k. 

Okay, so that’s how much you can make as a content creator. 

But what does one do? Here’s what you need to know. 

What is a content creator?

A content creator is someone who creates great content for a digital audience. You have lots of options for this content, so choose the format that speaks to you the most. 

Need a few ideas? You could…

• Create video content (think: YouTube and TikTok)
• Get into photography
• Start a podcast
• Write ebooks
• Blog
• Create social media posts
• Design graphics

…and more!

For example, I use platforms like this blog, my YouTube channel, and my email list to publish content and make sales. 

Okay, but maybe at this point you’re wondering, What’s the difference between that and an influencer? 

Great question.

Many use these terms interchangeably, but they’re not the same. 

The key difference? Intention.

Let me explain…

Content creators create content on a specific niche or topic and share their insights to educate and/or entertain their audience. 

For example, a content creator who’s a photographer might use Instagram to share their latest work for the sake of sharing beautiful pictures.

On the other hand, influencers build a personal brand with the goal of using their influence to make sales. 

For instance: 

A beauty influencer with a large following might partner with a popular skincare brand and create content promoting it in exchange for commissions. 

So, although content creators can influence people, they’re more focused on creating high-quality content (versus getting the highest number of likes and followers).

But you are making money either way. 

And the good news is you have several ways to make that money as a content creator.

18 ways content creators make money

Now that you know what a content creator is, let’s dig deeper: How can content creators make money? 

You’re about to find out.

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1. Online teaching 

Do you enjoy teaching people? Then, good news: There’s a huge demand. To give you an idea, the e-learning market size was worth nearly $400 billion in 2022.

So, you could reach a lot of people, depending on your niche. 

I personally make most of my money through my own courses. This isn’t an easy business model, but can be a highly fulfilling one – and scalable. 

To get started, you need a niche and an audience. 

I talk more about it in this guide: 

Start here:  How To Create A 6-Figure Online Course

2. Consulting

Consulting is all about evaluating a client’s problem and coming up with a plan to solve it. As you can imagine, there are a lot of consulting niches to explore. 

For example, if you’re good at digital advertising, you could become a digital advertising consultant and help businesses rank higher in search engines. 

If you have leadership skills, you could focus on supporting CEOs in maximizing team success.

Having marketable skills means you can start consulting immediately, without having to get formal certifications or training. 

Start here: How to Become a Successful Consultant (8 Steps) 

3. Coaching

Coaching and consulting can appear similar, but here’s a key difference: As a coach, you’d guide your clients to a solution – rather than doing it for them, as a consultant would.

What’s great about coaching is that, like consulting, you can start today based on your current skills. 

I go into more detail in this video:

Another perk? 

By offering 3-month coaching packages for $1,500 (which is what I recommend if you’re just getting started), you can quickly replace your income – while having a huge impact. 

Start here: How to Become a Coach

4. Selling digital products and merchandise

As a content creator, selling digital products is a smart way to make money without having to work for an hourly wage. 

Plus, there’s a huge demand for digital assets like courses and ebooks. 

In fact, the eLearning market is expected to surpass $840 billion by 2030, which gives you a huge audience to tap into. 

Don’t know what to sell?

You have tons of options. For example, you could offer…

• Templates
• Apps
• Patterns
• Premium content
• Digital plans

…and more! 

But maybe you’re wondering, Luisa, what’s the best digital product I can offer to maximize my ROI?

Easy: courses. Because they’re so valuable, you can sell them for a much higher price point (between $100-$3k) compared to assets like templates.

Start here: The Most Profitable Digital Products To Sell (+Where) 

5. Brand partnerships

You want to aim for long-term brand partnerships.

Why? Because they’re an efficient way to generate revenue and attract more opportunities in your niche. 

And yYou don’t necessarily need a huge audience to get started. 

What matters more than size is engagement. So, if you’re a small creator but have high engagement rates, that’s attractive to brands.

Start here: 5 Tips for Landing Your First Brand Partnership 

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6. Affiliate marketing 

The affiliate marketing industry will be worth over $27 billion by 2027. 

And depending on things like your niche and audience size, you can make money through affiliate commissions. 

As an affiliate, you promote products to your audience and get a commission for every sale. 

The blogger behind Making Sense of Cents made over $100k from affiliates in just one month. (But those aren’t really typical numbers – and affiliate marketing requires a sizable audience to be profitable.)

Start here: 65+ Top Affiliate Programs for Bloggers + Content Creators 

7. Direct ad sponsorship  

If you’ve ever encountered a creator who mentioned that a brand sponsored their video or other content, you’ve seen ad sponsorships at work. 

Once you have a following, sponsorships are a great way to monetize your content – while promoting brands you believe in. 

Start here: How to Make Money with Sponsors – A Guide for Online Content Creators 

8. Subscriptions 

Offering a subscription gives your audience access to your offer – for a recurring fee. 

For example, you could set up a membership platform that gives people exclusive perks, like subscriber-only videos, services, downloads, and so on. 

The great thing about subscriptions? They offer consistent income, which helps reduce the guesswork about how much you’ll earn in any given month.

Start here: How Creators Can Make Money with Membership Sites, Subscriptions, and Paywalls 

9. Speaking engagements

Landing speaking engagements is a golden opportunity to talk about a specific topic  – and get paid for it. 

But first, clarify your goals by being specific. 

According to Grand Baldwin, who’s earned $2+ million from speaking engagements, knowing what you’re aiming for is a key to getting gigs.

Think: Where do I want to speak? What do I want to talk about? Why should my audience care about what I have to say?

It also helps to keep a list of opportunities you come across along with dates and event organizer contact info. 

Start here: 11 Ways to Find Paid Speaking Opportunities in Any Industry 

10. Platform creator funds

These days, many platforms offer financial incentives for top creators. It’s a win-win: Platforms get traffic from the audience you attract, and you get paid for the great content you offer.

Here are a few creator funds to know about (and I’ll cover more platforms in a minute):

• TikTok Creator Fund
• YouTube Shorts Fund
• Quora Spaces

However, you need a fairly big audience to make this work. (To make money from AdSense on YouTube, you need at least 1,000 subscribers.)

Start here: 7 Social Media Platforms That Pay You to Create Content 

11. Offering exclusive content

A lot of people are willing to pay to see more of their favorite creators’ work. 

This can mean giving paying subscribers early access to your content, behind-the-scenes videos, and other exclusive perks. 

The important thing? Find out what your audience wants to see, and give them that.

Start here: 3 Unusual Ways To Create Exclusive Content That Attracts A Crowd 

12. Writing a book 

According to Statista, there’ll be more than 1 billion eBook readers by 2027. 

And there are ebooks in all types of niches, from fact to fiction.

The best thing is that you can self-publish your own ebooks on platforms like Amazon.

However, ebooks are low-priced offers, so you either need a big audience or a lot of books to make a good income from ebooks. 

Start here: How to Self-Publish a Book [+ Checklist] 

13. Guest posting 

I’m a big fan of guest posting. In fact, getting published on sites like Business Insider gave my business a huge boost early on.

With that said… 

You don’t need to be published on massive platforms to get results. Instead, focus on pitching to relevant platforms. 

Remember: Speaking to the right audience, even if it’s small, is better than speaking to a huge audience of people who aren’t interested.

Start here: 300+ Free Guest Posting Sites to Submit Guest Posts 

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14. Becoming a brand ambassador  

As a brand ambassador, your task would be to represent a particular brand through your content. So, to maximize your results, work with brands that are well-aligned with what you do. 

Once you have some experience and you’ve grown your audience, you’ll be able to work with bigger businesses and get paid more. 

Start here:  How To Become A Brand Ambassador and Get Paid

15. Selling art

Yes, you can make money selling art. 

Take Iulia Bochis, for example.

During Covid, she started posting her artwork on Instagram – and today, she’s a full-time artist with over 770k followers. 

So, don’t underestimate the power of using a huge platform like Instagram to connect with a specific audience, like Iulia does. 

In fact, online art sales grew by 7% in 2023 compared to the previous year, so there’s clearly a demand.

Start here: The starving artist is a myth: how to sell digital art (+ make a profit) 

16. Podcasting

Growing a successful podcast is an effective way to promote products and services to make money through your content. The key is to target a specific audience. 

For example, if you start a personal finance podcast, you could promote something like a course on how to get out of debt in X amount of time. 

Keep in mind that nearly 505 million people listen to podcasts as of 2024, so there’s a huge audience you can tap into. 

Start here: 10 Tips For Building A Successful Podcast 

17. Opening an online store

Platforms like Shopify and Etsy make setting up an online store easy. 

Plus, you can sell virtually anything, which gives you a lot of options depending on your interests and who your audience is. For example, YouTuber Paola Merrill (aka “The Cottage Fairy”) used her success on YouTube to start a successful Etsy store for her art.

Start here: How to start an online store – full guide 

18. Getting donations

As a creator, one way to boost your income is through donations. 

An easy way to set this up? 

Use a platform like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. The idea is that your fans can support your work and gain access to exclusive content they wouldn’t see otherwise. 

That way, you earn more money, and your followers get to see more of your content. 

Start here: Want more donations on Patreon? Cornell University researchers have some marketing advice 

Okay, now that we’ve looked at HOW you can make money as a content creator, let’s look at how MUCH you can make.

Frequently asked questions

Okay, now that you know how much content creators can make, let’s cover some FAQs:

How do you become a profitable content creator? 

Focus is the key. In other words, don’t join a million different platforms and try to grow on all of them at once. That’s a good way to burn out, but it’s NOT a good way to sustainably expand your reach. 

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So, what should you do instead?

This:

• Choose one platform that works for you
• Learn how to use it and what people want to see
• Once you get traction, expand to another platform

I also recommend starting with just one offer rather than trying to diversify too soon. 

That’s what I did with my Employee to Entrepreneur course: I spent a lot of time making it the most comprehensive course for people who wanted to quit their jobs and work for themselves.

Result: I got over $1.1 million in sales in under a year. 

So, keep in mind: Coaching or consulting is an ideal way to make money with the skills you already have. But once you start building an audience, adding courses will maximize your profits. 

What are platforms that pay content creators? 

There are a lot, but here are some of my top picks:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Medium
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Quora 

Next steps 

Alright, there you have it! 

Now you know how to make money as a content creator. As you can see, you have a lot of options. But remember: Deciding on one specific platform and being focused is how you’ll get results. 

What else do you need to know to succeed?

As an eight-figure coach, I’ve identified three mistakes course creators often make.

Want to skip them so you can grow faster? Check out my FREE guide.

Read more: 

The Most Successful Online Business Ideas

The Most Profitable Digital Products To Sell (+Where)

Social Media for Business: The Best Platforms & Tips

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That’s what you’re going to learn in this article. If you’re serious about things like…

• Earning more money than you’ve ever made in your 9-to-5
• Working from anywhere 
• Having more purpose in your professional life

…then becoming a content creator could be an ideal fit for you.

Want to learn more? Here we go.

How to become a successful content creator: 

• Find a niche
• Know your audience 
• Decide on a platform
• Publish content
• Use tools to automate and measure

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What is a content creator?

First off, a content creator is someone who creates content for a digital audience. 

As you can imagine, this can mean a lot of things because content comes in so many forms: Blogs, podcasts, videos, social media, and so on. 

For example, you could be a content creator who creates podcasts about a particular topic, like personal finance.

Is writing your strong suit? Then you could start a blog and create written content instead. 

For example, I have a YouTube audience, a blog audience, and a sizable email list. I share advice on something I have 10+ years of experience in – building businesses.

ou get the idea…

The important thing? Choose a medium you can see yourself committing to for long enough to see results. 

So, if you hate the idea of being on video, vlogging probably isn’t your best bet. Ideally, choose something you already enjoy or want to learn more about because this will help you keep going. 

Okay, but what else can you do to succeed faster? 

That’s what you’re about to find out.

How to become a successful content creator in 5 steps 

Here’s what I recommend to maximize your results.

1. Find your niche 

If your goal is to grow quickly as a content creator, niching down is really important. That means targeting a specific market segment rather than trying to reach everyone. 

Here’s an example: Let’s say you want to become a podcaster because you like discussing ideas and having interesting conversations.

Great! Here’s the thing, though… Podcasting is still really broad. 

And because it’s really broad, it doesn’t speak to anyone in particular. 

So, think about a specific topic you’re knowledgeable about – and that others will be interested in. 

For instance, maybe you’re passionate about helping young adults live debt-free because you used to be in debt and turned things around for yourself..  

Or maybe you want to help middle-aged adults get in shape using science-based strategies you’ve had success with.  

Having a niche will help you speak to your target audience and address their specific pain points.

Ultimately, think: What are some problems that I could help people solve based on my experience?

Once you’ve chosen a niche, you’ll have a solid foundation that you’ll be able to build on. 

2. Know your audience

Okay, so you’ve chosen a niche. The next step is to get to know your audience and what they want. 

Because remember… 

To create engaging content that solves people’s problems, you have to know what those problems are in the first place. 

So, what would attract the people you’re trying to reach? 

Going back to our earlier example, if you want to appeal to young adults trying to get out of debt, you wouldn’t use the same language you’d use to appeal to people in their 50s.

That’s why it’s so important to research your target audience. 

For example, look at what discussions people are having in online groups, how they engage with other content creators, and so on.  

Think: What do they need? What are their priorities? How can I use my experience to make their lives easier? 

If you create content with them in mind, that’ll help you get better results.

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3. Decide on a platform 

Once you’ve decided who your audience is, you have to choose what platform you’re going to use to reach them. This step is essential, and it ties into knowing your audience.

Why? Because just as communication styles differ, so too do people’s preferences about how and where they consume content. 

For example, Gen Z is a big fan of visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok. So if you’re trying to appeal to a younger market segment, those are great platforms to target.

On the other hand, if you’re aiming for a slightly older audience, Facebook is a better choice. 

(Also, keep in mind that statistically, adults who are 55+ tend to prefer text-based content versus video.)

Here’s a quick overview of different platforms and what they’re best for:

• Facebook: Ideal for building niche groups on a variety of topics, especially among millennials (69% use it).
• YouTube: Ideal for long-form and short-form video content, especially if you’re trying to target Gen Z or millennials. 
• Instagram: Ideal for sharing visual content, with a majority of users (over 60%) being between 18 and 34 years old. 
• TikTok: Ideal for short video content to attract Gen Z. 
• X/Twitter: Ideal for sharing written content, podcasts, and videos. Most popular among men (60.9%).

As you can see, there are a lot of great platforms you can use to reach your target audience as a content creator. 

In fact, you might even be tempted to sign up for all of them to try to reach more people.

Sounds like a good strategy, right?

Actually, trying to grow on a bunch of different platforms at once can be counter-productive. Instead of reaching more people, you’ll risk reaching less – and burning out in the process. 

Let me explain…

Unfortunately, you can’t just use one strategy across the board. Different platforms require different approaches, and it takes time to figure out what works and what doesn’t on each.

And if you try to do it all, it’ll be much harder to get traction. 

So, here’s what I recommend: 

• Start with one or two platforms
• Learn as much as possible about the platform(s) and what users want to see (for example, user-generated content is popular on platforms like Instagram, and funny posts work great on Facebook)
• Once you get traction, rinse and repeat elsewhere

With this strategy, you’ll get better results, fast.

For example, when I was starting out, I got really good at using one platform (Facebook) to help me scale. 

Later on, I added YouTube and search engine optimization, which helped me build the sustainable eight-figure business I have now.

4. Publish content consistently  

Being consistent is one key to growing an audience as a content creator. 

Okay, but how?

Choose a medium that works for you.

Remember: If you enjoy creating content, it won’t feel like a chore. 

And… if it doesn’t feel like a chore, you’ll be much more likely to want to do it every day. Even if you don’t see results immediately.Sticking to a schedule is also crucial. I recommend creating content early in your workday so you’ll be less likely to skip it – especially if you have a busy schedule. 

Want more tips? I go into a lot more detail in this video:

5. Use tools to automate and optimize

So, how can you effectively automate as much of the process as possible? 

That’s where tools come in.

These days, there are a lot of tools you can use to get better results and automate, like Later, and Tailwind. 

Other tools, like Google Analytics, help you measure your results, so that you know how to improve your content and reach even more people. 

What skills do content creators need? 

The content creation market is expected to be worth $23.2 billion by 2026. 

In other words? The demand for content creators who know how to create engaging content isn’t going anywhere.

And if you want to quit your job and become one yourself, there’s plenty of room in the market for you. 

With that said, the specific skills you’ll need as a content creator depend (at least in part) on what format you choose for content delivery. 

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Here’s what I mean by that…

Some people excel at creating engaging videos that viewers love consuming. Or they’re really good at interviewing people and creating podcast episodes that their audience comes back to again and again.

But… sometimes, the same people can struggle to create attention-grabbing written content, like social media captions or blog posts. 

The good news is that you don’t need to know everything about content creation to be successful. Choose a format that works for you. 

If you’re a strong writer and video isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Just stick with writing and get even better at it.

Ultimately, no matter what format you go with, here are some key things you should get good at:

• Creating valuable content – Ask yourself: Is this useful to my target audience? Does it address a problem they have?

• Researching trends – What’s new? What do people want to see? 

• Monitoring your content’s performance – Are certain types of content getting more traction than others? Look for patterns that can help you focus on creating content that will outperform what you’ve made in the past.

• Building an audience – This is a key part of being a successful content creator, and it starts with identifying a target market.

• Monetizing your content – From brand partnerships to monetizing videos and podcasts, there are a lot of ways to make money from your content (and we’ll get into the details in a bit).

• Coming up with a content strategy – Think: Who am I trying to reach? What am I going to post? How often? Having a plan will help you work effectively and know if you’re on the right track or not.

What are the best content creator ideas?

Now that we’ve looked at what skills you need as a content creator, what are the different ways of becoming one? That’s what we’ll look at next.

Blogger

If writing is your thing, blogging is an ideal way to become a content creator. 

According to LinkedIn, 77% of internet users read blogs. 

Which means? There’s a huge audience you could tap into. 

And remember, you don’t need any formal higher ed to be a blogger.

In fact, having an academic background can work against you because you might have to unlearn the stuffy writing that’s taught in college.

So, what do you need?

The key to effective blogging is creating content that interests your audience. Be engaging. Be funny. Use your personality. 

That’s how you’ll set yourself apart.

Read more: The 16 Best Blogging Platforms (& How to Pick One) 

YouTuber

As a YouTuber, you’d create videos geared toward your specific audience and get paid through sponsorships or YouTube itself (and I’ll cover specific ways you can earn later on). 

There are all kinds of YouTubers out there – from teens who do makeup tutorials to middle-aged digital nomads who vlog about their lifestyles.

One benefit of going this route?

Unlike other platforms, like Instagram, YouTube content has a much longer lifespan. 

In other words, you can create valuable content and keep making money on it years down the road. 

In fact, that’s why I’ve moved away from Instagram in favor of YouTube myself:

Ultimately, if video creation is your thing, choosing YouTube specifically is a solid choice. 

Why? 47% of internet users watch YouTube videos at least once a month, so there’s a huge audience to tap into. 

Read more: How to Become a YouTuber and Get Paid: 13 Tips 

Content writer 

If you decide to become a content writer, you could create a wide range of content, from ebooks to articles. 

But again, it does help to have a niche. 

That way, you’ll know who you’re writing for and you’ll get better at writing for a specific audience.

Plus, as a content writer who runs their own thing, you’d have the flexibility to work from anywhere.

Ultimately, practice is key to becoming a better writer. Once you’ve decided on a niche, get some experience under your belt for your portfolio. 

Don’t have any professional experience yet? Don’t worry, you can still get published on platforms like Medium. 

Read more: How To Become a Content Writer | Top Content Writing Skills 

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Social media content creator

As the name suggests, social media content creators focus specifically on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and so on. 

Depending on the platform, you could engage with your audience via videos, captions, pictures, or other types of content.

Read more: 27 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs | Digital Marketing Institute 

Influencer

In a nutshell, influencers leverage their popularity to promote products or services among their target audience. 

As we’ll see in a bit, making money as an influencer depends on a few factors, like the size of your audience, your engagement rate, and what you promote. 

And as an influencer,you could use various platforms, like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Again, choose what makes sense for you. 

Read more: How to Become an Influencer in 11 Steps | Coursera 

Podcast host 

Podcasts are an incredibly popular form of content. 

In fact, over 500 million people listen to podcasts worldwide. 

And in the U.S. alone, the average listener spends seven hours per week consuming podcasts.

Clearly, there’s a big demand for engaging podcast content – and again, there are all kinds of niches you could explore, from food to personal finance. 

If you enjoy interesting conversations with people on a range of topics, podcasting is a solid choice.

Read more: The 10 best podcast hosting platforms 

Designer

Content designers are in charge of curating digital content to enhance the user experience (UX). 

So, they focus on understanding the target market they’re trying to reach, developing a consistent style guide, and evaluating how content is performing. 

As a designer, you’d work to make designs across mobile and web applications easier to understand and use. 

Read more: What is a Content Designer & what do they do? 

Photographer

These days, content is incredibly visual. That means, knowing how to take great pictures is a valuable skill. Plus, as a photographer, you could work in a variety of settings.

For example, you could work with influencers, do weddings, or specialize in something like portrait photography instead. 

To get your foot in the door, learn how to use industry tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. 

Read more: How to Become a Professional Photographer

Videographer

Videographers create and edit video content. 

In the world of content creation this often means making content for video-based social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Videographers also work on websites, films, and marketing campaigns. 

If you’ve always wanted to work behind the scenes on a viral video, then this could be the career for you.

Read more: How to Become a Videographer (Next Steps + Requirements) 

Streamer

Simply put, a streamer is someone who uses social media platforms (like YouTube or Facebook) to go live for an audience. 

By streaming live, you can interact with your viewers in real time and get immediate feedback.  

There are all kinds of streamers out there, from gamers to chefs. No matter who your target audience is, streaming can be a great way to to create a genuine community around your content.

Read more: How to Be a Successful Streamer: Do You Have What It Takes? – Restream Blog 

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How do content creators make money?

The average income for content creators is $89,128.

However, as a content creator, you don’t have to depend on one income stream, like you do in a typical 9-5.

Let’s take YouTube as a quick example:

As a YouTuber, here are some of the ways you could earn money from your content:

• Ads (specifically through Google AdSense and the YouTube Partner Program)
• Super Thanks
• Super Chats and Super Stickers
• Brand sponsorships/partnerships
• YouTube Premium

And YouTube is just one example. 

What are some other ways to earn?

Here are a few:

• Affiliate marketing
• Online courses/services
• Digital downloads
• Merch (t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, etc.)
• Exclusive content on Patreon 

There are plenty of different ways you could monetize your content depending on things like your experience, the format you choose, your niche, which platforms you’re using, and so on. 

Of course, how much you earn also depends on how big and engaged your audience is. And the bigger and more engaged you are, the more control you have about how much you can charge for things like brand deals. 

For instance, content creators with at least one million followers can earn $10,000 for a single post – and some charge significantly more.

However, there are lots of content creators who make significantly less or not much at all because they haven’t built a sustainable business from the start. 

Focus on creating high-quality content and becoming an authority in your niche. Once you’re doing that, earning money will be a lot easier.

Examples of successful content creators

Okay, now that we’ve talked about how content creators make money, let’s look at some specific examples. 

LuisaZhou.com

First up, hi – it’s me, Luisa. As an eight-figure coach, my top platforms include this blog, email, and YouTube. My secret to getting traction and results? Focus. As I mentioned earlier, signing up for too many platforms and trying to do it all won’t help you grow. Instead, stick to one or two platforms and learn the ins and outs of how to use them effectively. 

IWillTeachYouToBeRich

This platform is all about helping people create a rich life and get rid of limiting beliefs they may have about money. The founder, Ramit Sethi, reaches his audience through his podcast, his blog, X, and Netflix. He’s even written a best-selling book. 

AliAbdaal.com

Ali Abdaal is a former doctor turned YouTuber, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author who creates content around topics like productivity, money, and tech. 

As you can see, these content creators all have a focus. 

In other words, they don’t create random content and hope that people will like it. They have a specific audience in mind, and they create content geared toward that audience. 

For example, in my business, I help people who are disillusioned with their boring, restrictive 9-to-5 and want more freedom, money, and purpose. 

Since that’s the audience I want to attract, I speak to their pain points in my content. 

Ultimately, knowing who you’re trying to attract will make it easier to create the kind of content that will help you succeed too. 

Next steps  

So, there you have it! 

Now you know what a content creator is and how you can become one yourself. As you can see, you have all kinds of options to explore depending on your interests and preferences. 

Ready to get started but not sure where to go from here?

I’m giving you FREE access to my PDF to help you avoid three big mistakes creators make.

Read more: 

How to Use SEO for Course Creators (get more sales) 

Social Media for Business: The Best Platforms & Tips

How to Work for Yourself and Make 6-Figures (in 8 steps)

The post What is a Content Creator? How to become a top creator + ideas appeared first on Luisa Zhou.

You’re tired of your 9-to-5. 

In this article, you’ll learn the best solopreneur ideas of 2024 that can help you do things like:

• Quit your boring desk job
• Travel whenever you want
• Make more money than you ever thought possible

Let’s get started!

What is a solopreneur?

A solopreneur is an entrepreneur who runs their business on their own. In other words, they’re in charge of everything – from creating their offer to marketing their business.

They can be freelancers, consultants, coaches, ecommerce owners… You name it. 

And they’re no small group: 

According to Statista, freelancers will account for over 50% of the US workforce by 2027.

For example, I run my own business as a one-person business. 

I’m the only employee – but I have a team of contractors who help me build my business. 

I started my business to get out of my 9-5 job. And today, it takes me a few hours to run every week – while I focus on my other businesses and spending time with my family (my husband Stephen and our beloved German Shepherd, Falco). 

Okay, now that we know what being a solopreneur means, let’s talk about how you can become one.

The best one-person business ideas in 2024

Depending on your skills and interests, there are plenty of ideas that you could turn into a thriving business. 

Here are my top recommendations.

1. Coaching 

As a coach, your role would be to guide your clients to help them reach their specific goals. 

And since people have all sorts of different goals, there are a lot of niches to choose from.

Example: 

My student Ruby runs a six-figure relationship coaching business to help quality guys find quality women.

Another client, David, helps people lose weight using herbs.

So, bottom line here: 

If you want to make a big impact while earning great money, coaching is the best business model to choose as a solopreneur. 

You don’t need a fancy website or expensive certification to get started. 

What you really need is an offer that people are willing to pay for.

How do I know? Because I’ve scaled my coaching business to eight figures myself. 

I’ve also helped thousands of students start successful coaching businesses, so I know what works and what doesn’t. 

Start here: 100 High-Ticket Life Coaching Niches

2. Consulting

Coaching and consulting are similar in that advice is important to both. 

But here’s one way they differ: 

As a coach, you’d work with your clients to help them reach their goals – rather than doing everything for them. 

As a consultant, though, your role would be to evaluate a problem and create a plan to solve it. 

For example, a company might hire a consultant to find out why sales are down and address the root cause. 

Think of it this way… 

Consultants focus on solving a particular problem – versus helping a particular client.

Sound interesting? 

First, identify a hole in the market that you could fill. 

And remember: 

Like with coaching, offering results is much more important than having a perfect website or years of experience.

Start here: How to Become a Successful Consultant

3. Course creator

As a course creator, you’d make courses to educate people about a topic and help them solve their problems. 

For example, one of my courses is called Clients Come to Me, and it helps a specific market segment (entrepreneurs) solve a specific challenge they have (having to hustle to get clients).

That’s just an example, though. 

You could create a course about virtually anything.

Don’t know what to choose? 

Ultimately, you should know enough about a topic that you can offer great value. 

If you can deliver on your promises and there’s an audience for what you want to offer… you’re on the right track.

Start here: How To Create an Online Course

4. Graphic designer

Graphic designers can be in charge of creating a wide range of visuals for clients, from logos to social media content. 

Okay, but maybe you’re thinking:

“Luisa, that sounds interesting, but… I don’t have a degree in graphic design.”

Don’t worry – you don’t absolutely need one.

What you SHOULD have is experience using common graphic design tools, like InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. 

You should also know about design theory and how to use things like proportions, colors, and fonts effectively.

Start here: How to Become a Graphic Designer Without a Degree: A First-hand Account

5. Blogging

If you’re a good writer and like the idea of building an audience through your own website, consider blogging. 

You might not realize this, but… blogging is STILL an incredibly effective tool for influencing people and driving traffic. 

In fact, according to LinkedIn, 77% of internet users read blogs. 

And keep in mind…

You don’t need an advanced degree to be a good blogger.

Effective blogging is all about creating engaging, informative content that your target audience actually wants to read. 

For that, you should know how to write effectively and use your personality to connect with people. 

Start here: ​​How to Start a Blog: 12 Super Simple Steps for Beginners

6. Freelance writing

Freelance writing means writing content for clients without being a salaried employee. 

Depending on who you work with, you could write a variety of different types of content, including articles, newsletters, and ebooks. 

What’s great about going freelance is that you can choose your clients and what types of projects you want to take on. 

Another perk? You can work from anywhere, which gives you huge freedom.

Ultimately, if you want to become a great freelance writer, the key is to practice. 

Even if you don’t have any clients yet, you can still write and publish content on platforms like Medium for your portfolio.  

Start here: How to Become a Freelance Writer From Scratch (Complete Guide)

7. Virtual assistant 

As a virtual assistant (VA), you’d support a business or busy professional with business-related tasks.

So, for example… 

If you worked for a CEO, you might be in charge of things like organizing their schedule and setting their appointments. 

Or, you might do things like social media management and customer service… It depends on your interests and your client’s needs.

Because there are all kinds of industries and professionals who need VAs, first decide what services you want to offer. 

Niching down will help you stand out and land clients faster.

Start here: How to Become a Virtual Assistant | Coursera 

8. Content creation (podcasting and video)  

We’ve already covered blogging as one form of content creation, but there are others. For example, podcasts and videos are highly engaging forms of content. 

How engaging? 

Quick example: According to research, the average American listens to eight podcasts a week. 

And video content is also wildly popular. 

Which means? Depending on what your niche is, you could become a successful solopreneur through content creation.

To get started, think about what audience you want to attract, and research your competition. 

You don’t need any formal training to become a content creator, but you should know whether there’s a demand for what you want to offer.

Start here: 

How To Start A Podcast And Make Money – Forbes Advisor 

How To Become A Successful Video Content Creator – Insights From KallmeKris 

9. Web designing

As a web designer, you’d make websites pretty and easy to use. 

Sound like something you’d love to do?

Good news: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by 16% in the coming years – much faster than average.  
To get your foot in the door, learn about things like user experience (UX) and visual design. It can also help to learn basic HTML and CSS for small website tweaks.

Start here: What Does a Web Designer Do (and How Do I Become One)? | Coursera 

10. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing means promoting a business’s product or service in exchange for a commission. 

Example: Let’s say you have an interior design blog that gets a lot of traffic. 

In that case, you could partner with a furniture business, talk to your audience about that company, and earn a cut of the sales you drive.

Technically, anyone can become an affiliate marketer. But if you want to make it a significant source of passive income, start by building an audience that you can market to first. 

Start here: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Affiliate Marketer 

11. Mobile app development

Love technology? 

Good news: Building apps can be incredibly lucrative. In some cases, you could make six figures for a single app. 

As a developer, you could either build apps for clients or build and monetize your own apps through subscriptions or ads.

Before getting started, though, be sure to learn the programming languages you’ll need, like Swift and JavaScript. 

It can also help to contribute to open-source projects, get internships, and network effectively.

Start here: How To Become A Mobile App Developer [In-Depth Guide] 

12. Event planning

As an event planner, you’d be in charge of organizing events, from brainstorming activities to coordinating with venues and making sure things run smoothly the day of. 

For example, you could organize business events, weddings, parties, and so on. 

If you have strong organizational skills and work well under pressure, this career could be an ideal choice. 

One way to get your foot in the door? 

Offer to volunteer for an established event planner. Once you have experience and references, that can help you start your own business. 

Start here: What Is an Event Planner? How to Become One, Salary, Skills. | Built In

13. Copywriting 

Copywriters produce content with one specific goal: To make sales. So, for example, copywriters can write things like:

• Promotional emails
• Landing pages
• Product descriptions

…And much more.

As a copywriter, your job would be to offer results. Remember: If you can offer results, you can charge a lot because you’re WORTH a lot.

The key is to practice. 

Once you get some experience under your belt, you’ll be able to apply to jobs on sites like Upwork, get reviews, and increase your rates. 

Start here: Copywriting 101: How to Become a Copywriter [Free Guide] 

14. Photographer

As a photographer, you can earn great money, have a flexible schedule, and decide what kinds of clients you want to have. 

For example, if you work well under pressure, consider becoming a wedding photographer: You can charge high rates and work less during the off-season.

But there are all kinds of different niches you could choose from, including commercial, fashion, and portrait photography. 

To get started, familiarize yourself with the professional camera and tools you’ll need, like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. 

You can also take courses to help you gain essential skills you’ll need as a photographer.

Start here: How to Become a Professional Photographer 

15. Dog walking 

If you love animals, becoming a professional dog walker could be a great way to become a solopreneur. 

These days, a lot of people have dogs but don’t necessarily have time to walk them every day.

That’s where you’d come in. 

To get started, contact your local animal shelter or veterinarian to let them know you offer dog walking services. 

If you don’t have any experience yet, offer to walk friends’ dogs and use the reviews you get to land paying work.  

Start here: How to Become a Dog Walker: Step-By-Step Guide | Hepper 

16. Social media management 

As a social media manager, you’d run a business’s social media strategy to engage with its target market and expand its reach.

To succeed in this role, you should be creative and stay up-to-date on the latest trends.

Don’t have any experience yet? Don’t worry, there are plenty of courses you can take to give you a good foundation. 

Start here: How to Become a Social Media Manager – A Complete Guide 

17. Selling craft goods

If you love creating things, selling your craft goods can be a perfect way to become a solopreneur. 

You can sell online using your own website, open a shop on a platform like Etsy, or take part in in-person events like craft fairs to sell your creations.

Start here: 10 Things You MUST Do to Have a Successful Online Craft Business | Create & Thrive 

18. Personal training

As a personal trainer, your role would be to help people improve their health through better diet and exercise. 

To set yourself up for success, get a certification that’s accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). 

A few examples include the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).

Once you’re certified, it’ll be easier to find work in a variety of different settings, like gyms and wellness centers. 

Start here: How to Become a Personal Trainer (Next Steps + Requirements) 

19. Tutoring

Tutoring someone means helping them improve in a certain subject area or skill set. For example, as a tutor, you could give kids math lessons to supplement what they learn in school.

One advantage of tutoring? You can offer your services in-person or online, which broadens your reach. 

To get started, make sure you know enough about a subject to be able to explain concepts in simple terms. This is especially important if you work with children.

Start here: How to become an online tutor: A step-by-step guide from Preply 

20. Home repair services

If you’re good at fixing or building things, offering home repair services can be a lucrative way to become a solopreneur. 

For example, you could specialize in fixing appliances (think washing machines or dishwashers) or work on carpentry projects instead.

Before setting up shop, find out what licensing requirements exist in your state, if any. 

Start here: How to Start a Home Repair Business in 5 Easy Steps | Handyman Startup 

21. Ecommerce business

As an ecommerce solopreneur, you could sell products online through a variety of platforms, from social media apps to e-commerce sites like Shopify. 

Before getting started, though, research your idea and see if there’s a demand you could fill. You’ll also want to stay up-to-date on trends. 

Remember: If you offer what people are actively looking for, that’ll make sales a LOT easier.

Start here: How To Start an Ecommerce Business: Shopify Guide 

22. Cleaning services

Cleaning is an essential service. 

Which means? 

By starting a cleaning business, you could choose virtually any niche: from house cleaning to corporate settings. 

And though there’s no right or wrong way to go here, identifying your target audience will help you market directly to them. 

For example, if you’re targeting retirees, they might not have the same expectations as a big corporation. So, before getting started, find out what your chosen demographic wants. 

Start here: How To Start A Cleaning Business (Guide) – Forbes Advisor 

23. Marketing strategy services 

Being a marketing strategist is all about developing efficient ways to help businesses reach their marketing goals. 

But you might be thinking, “Isn’t that what a marketing manager does?”

Not exactly.

The big difference is that marketing strategists have a long-term vision, whereas marketing managers focus on shorter-term marketing activities. 

So, to be a strategist, it’s helpful to have a background in marketing, copywriting, or a similar field. 

But most importantly, you should know how to develop a plan to help your clients reach their big-picture marketing goals.

Start here: How To Become a Digital Marketing Strategist in 4 Steps | Indeed.com 

24. Bookkeeping

As a bookkeeper, you’d be in charge of managing your clients’ finances. 

So, this could include things like creating financial reports, tracking transactions, and monitoring accounts to look out for discrepancies. 

Good news: You don’t need a college degree to get started. 

But you SHOULD familiarize yourself with relevant bookkeeping software, like Quickbooks and Expensify. 

Start here: How To Pursue a Career as a Bookkeeper | Indeed.com 

25. Technical writing 

Technical writers explain complicated ideas or concepts in a way that’s easier to understand. So, for example, as a technical writer, you could write guides, manuals, and so on. 

Okay, but maybe you’re wondering, “Luisa, what’s the difference between technical writers and copywriters?”

Great question.

Technical writers focus on explaining. Copywriters focus on selling. 

Both are important, but they’re not the same.

To get your foot in the door, though, you’ll need a similar approach: Write a lot. And practice presenting information in a way that makes people think, “I understand this.”

Start here: What Is a Technical Writer? How to Become One, Salary, Skills. | Built In 

26. Data analytics consulting

As a data analytics consultant, you’d help businesses make their data analytics processes better. 

Depending on your interests and expertise, you could work on a variety of different tasks – from creating data models to teaching people how to analyze data themselves. 

If you love technology and have good communication skills, data analytics can be an ideal way to dive into solopreneurship. 

To get started, familiarize yourself with programming languages you might need, like Python, R, and SQL. 

It can also help to get a relevant certification or internship. 

Start here: What Does a Data Analytics Consultant Do? (And How To Become One) | Indeed.com 

For more, take a look at these side hustle ideas: 

How to run a solopreneur business

Now you know what solopreneur businesses there are… But how do you run one? 

Take these steps: 

• Be on top of your finances: YOU are in charge of your income, so you need to budget and track your income and expenses. There are online tools for this and you can work with an accountant.
• Get organized: If you learn how to build systems and manage your projects, building your business will be 10X easier. I talk more about it here. 
• Focus on the most important things: Get clients using ONE strategy and take steps every day to land your first clients. 

Should you become a solopreneur?

Though solopreneurship isn’t for everyone, it could be a great fit for you if…

• You want the freedom to be your own boss, set your own schedule, and make more money
• You’re willing to put in the time and work needed to grow a business
• You have marketable skills

And here’s the thing…

Being a solopreneur doesn’t have to be a huge investment. 

In fact, if you decide to become a coach or consultant, you’ll have very few overhead costs because ultimately, your expertise and guidance are what people will pay you for.

What’s next? 

Okay, now you know what the best solopreneur ideas are. As you can see, there are a LOT of options.

Feeling overwhelmed?

I’ve been there too… 

In fact, I used to work a 9-to-5 I wasn’t passionate about. 

But today? I have a thriving eight-figure business.

It didn’t happen overnight, though. And that’s why I decided to create a complete course to help people just like you grow a lot faster. 

Ready to skip the rookie mistakes? 

Here’s everything you’ll need to start a business that’ll give you more money, time, and purpose:

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You’re about to find out. 

If you…

• Want to be your own boss – without having to manage employees
• Need a better work/life balance
• Lack purpose in your current job

…then becoming a solopreneur could be an ideal fit.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

What is a solopreneur? 

A solopreneur is an entrepreneur who wears all the hats in their business. They’re in charge of everything – from choosing a business idea, launching their offer, marketing, and everything in between. 

They don’t have any salaried employees or business partners like an entrepreneur might.

With that said…

Being a solopreneur doesn’t mean you can’t outsource. 

In fact, that’s what I do in my business: 

I’ve grown to eight figures with no employees, but I HAVE outsourced tasks to contractors to help me scale (and I’ll talk about this more in a bit).

So, keep that in mind: You can be a solopreneur and still get outside help. 

The top benefits of being a solopreneur

The top benefits of solopreneurs are: 

• Easy to start
• You make all the decisions
• Flexibility
• You choose your clients
• All profits are yours
• You can work from anywhere

Solopreneurs tend to share similar traits. These are…

Key characteristics of solopreneurs

What does it take to become a successful solopreneur? 

For one thing, you should be self-motivated because you might not see tangible results for a while. 

(Don’t ask me how I know… I built several businesses that flopped before finally seeing serious growth.)

Ultimately, you need to have the discipline to work on your business long-term – without needing anyone to push you. 

Remember: As a solopreneur, you’re accountable to yourself, not a boss. 

And if you come from an employee background, like I did, this will require a mindset shift. 

Chances are, you have limiting beliefs that could hold you back (and I’ll give you an example in a minute).

What is the biggest difference between solopreneurs vs entrepreneurs?

As a solopreneur, you’re also an entrepreneur. But not all entrepreneurs are solopreneurs.

Let me explain…

The main difference between entrepreneurs and solopreneurs is their long-term vision.

For example, an entrepreneur might start out as a solopreneur but have the goal of eventually hiring employees to expand operations. 

Maybe they want to open a chain of stores or sell internationally. 

On the other hand, most solopreneur don’t want to grow a huge business (as I’ll explain more later on).

For now, here are a few key differences between solopreneurs and entrepreneurs:

Solopreneurs focus on one thing

Instead of offering many different services, like an agency would, solopreneurs focus on one specific niche offer. 

For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you’re going to focus on delivering quality wedding packages for your clients – versus expanding your operations beyond what you can handle. 

Solopreneurs have less risk

If you’re risk averse (like me!), solopreneurship is a lot safer than entrepreneurship.

Why? Because as a solopreneur, you don’t have to worry about getting outside funding or pouring a lot of your own money into an idea that may or may not work.

If you choose a tried-and-tested business model that offers a high ROI and low overhead (think coaching or consulting), you can get started a lot faster – with a lot less risk.  

Solopreneurs often work in their business

As a solopreneur, you’d generally work in your business – rather than managing it, like an entrepreneur might. 

But again…

You don’t have to work 24/7 as a solopreneur. For example, even though I still coach, I’ve outsourced a lot of tasks to free up more of my time. 

Solopreneurs don’t always look to grow their business 

Instead of massively expanding their operations, solopreneurs build flexible businesses they can manage themselves, with little or no outside help. 

And keep in mind…

Just because solopreneurs don’t hire salaried employees or build huge teams doesn’t mean they can’t scale or make great money. 

Because… they can.

And offering coaching or consulting is a great way to get there, especially since you can use courses and group coaching to scale – without adding to your workload. 

As I talk about here: 

Being a solopreneur comes with its own challenges.

What are they? 

That’s what we’ll look at next.

The top challenges of being a solopreneur

The biggest challenges of being a solopreneur are: 

• Responsibility: You have to be on top of all of your income and manage all your to-do’s – your business depends on you
• Cash flow: You typically don’t have outside funding, so you need to have cash in the bank to make investments
• Isolation: You work alone and if your business is online, you don’t have a lot of in-person interaction 
• Trading time for money: If you stop working, your business stops, too 

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these.

The first step is to choose the right business idea – and that’s what we’ll look at next. 

The best solopreneur ideas

Here are the best ideas that’ll help you hit the ground running – so you can make money faster and ultimately quit your job.

Coaching and consulting 

As a coach, your job is to offer actionable advice that helps your clients reach specific goals. 

So, instead of doing the work for your client, you’re using your experience to guide them to the results they’re after. 

I’m a bit biased about coaching because I know firsthand what an effective business model it can be. Thanks to coaching, I earned over $100k in four months – and that was before I quit my 9-5.

Think of it this way: If you offer three months of coaching for $1,500, you won’t need many clients to replace a full-time income. 

Wondering how to create a coaching package? I outline everything here.

Freelancing

If you have specific, in-demand skills, freelancing is one of the easiest ways to become a solopreneur.

For example, let’s say you’re a graphic designer working a typical 9-5.

But… you don’t like having to work in an office. Or maybe you want more control over when you work and how much you get paid. 

In that case? 

You could use your skills to go freelance and build your own client base using sites like Upwork or asking your network for referrals. 

A lot of solopreneurs (like me!) turn to freelancers when they need to offload tasks, and it’s a great way to replace your salary quickly.

Online courses 

If you like the idea of having a huge impact on people’s lives while ALSO earning passive income to free up your time, online courses are the way to go. 

What can you teach? Basically anything – from marketing to piano. 

And the thing is, you DON’T need a massive audience to make money with online courses. 

What you do need is the right audience: People who are excited about what you offer because it speaks specifically to their needs or wants. 

Example: I made over $8k in course sales with an audience of 200 people, so I know firsthand what works:

E-commerce store 

E-commerce can be a lucrative way to become a solopreneur. In fact, the e-commerce market size is worth $8.8 trillion. 

With that said… 

Selling physical products does come with much higher overhead costs: You need to choose a product to offer, buy inventory, and deal with shipping. 

All told, you’d be looking at a $40,000 investment to get your business up and running. 

So, though e-commerce absolutely can be a good option, do your research first to know what expenses you can expect. 

How to become a solopreneur (4 steps) 

Okay, now that we’ve talked about some great solopreneurship ideas, how can you actually become one? 

You’re about to find out. 

Find a niche

To be a successful solopreneur, you need a niche. That means you have to target a specific market segment rather than everyone. 

For example, let’s say you want to become a health coach. 

Great! The thing is… that’s really broad. And because it’s really broad, it doesn’t speak to anyone in particular. 

Think of it this way…

If you were a retiree looking for a coach who could help you lose weight, what would you prefer:

Working with someone who says, “I help everyone improve their health” or someone who says, “I help retirees build customized workout programs based on their unique metabolism.”

Chances are, you’d go with the second coach. 

And that’s the power of niching down: It helps you speak directly to your target audience and address their specific challenges.

So, bottom line: Think of problems people have that you could solve. 

Once you’ve identified a niche, the next steps will be a lot simpler because you’ll know who you’re trying to attract.

Get your first paying clients

How can you land clients? 

There are all kinds of ways depending on your niche, your budget, and what speaks to you most. 

For example, if you’re a coach, getting interviewed on niche podcasts can be an effective way to get your name out there among your target audience. 

But maybe you’re wondering, “Luisa, that sounds great, but… I don’t know how to get podcast interviews.”

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

To find podcasts in your niche, try using these queries in any search engine:

• “Podcast” + “[Your Niche]”
• “Top [Your Niche] podcasts in [Year]”

Once you find relevant podcasts, here’s a template you can customize and send to podcast hosts: 

Hi [Podcaster’s Name],

I’m [Your Name] and I [briefly talk about what you do that would interest the podcast host/their audience]. Based on your listeners’ interests, here are a few podcast ideas that I think your listeners would enjoy:

• [Topic suggestion 1]
• [Topic suggestion 2]
• [Topic suggestion 3]

Do any of these topics speak to you? If so, please reach out and we can discuss this further. 

Warmly,

[Your Name]

Appearing on niche podcasts is great because you instantly get exposed to people who might be looking for what you offer.

But there are also plenty of other ways you can land clients, like engaging in niche social media groups (think Facebook and Reddit), running ads, and promoting your business through LinkedIn.

Not all of these strategies are created equal, though.

If you’re just starting out, some will work a lot better than others (for example, LinkedIn will give you faster results than paid ads).

I cover all of these strategies (and a lot more!) in detail here.

Build systems 

Once you have some business experience under your belt, you’ll want to create systems that’ll help you automate tasks and scale. 

For example, sales are essential to having a successful solopreneurship because, without them, you won’t have a business.

That’s why creating a system for getting sales is so important. For this step, you can use things like email marketing, sales pages, and webinars. 

And when you’re creating these materials, think: Is this content reusable?

If so, you’re on the right track to creating a business that gives you true freedom.

Here’s a disclaimer, though: Building systems is important, but so is timing. 

You’ll know you’re ready to systemize things like lead generation and sales when you’re making consistent income month to month and know what’s working consistently. 

Work on your mindset

As I mentioned earlier, you might have limiting beliefs right now that could hold you back as a solopreneur. 

For example, maybe you have a tendency to think, “This is too hard” or “I can’t do this” when you’re faced with a task you’ve never done before. 

In that case? Get in the habit of reframing your thoughts.

Like this: “I have everything I need to figure this out” or “There are many ways to solve this problem and I just have to find one that works for me.”

Yes, this exercise is easier said than done. 

But the more you actively reframe your thinking and replace negative thoughts with positive ones, the more you’ll grow.  

Ultimately, having a growth mindset can open a lot of doors for you. 

Take it from me: I went from being a salaried employee to building a thriving business, and changing my mindset was a key to getting there. 

Solopreneur examples

Okay, now that we’ve looked at how to become a solopreneur, let’s look at some real-life examples. 

Luisa Zhou

First up… Hi, I’m Luisa. I used to be a Princeton-trained engineer, but I wanted more freedom and meaning than my 9-5 offered.

Long story short, I built a few businesses on the side until eventually, my work paid off and I made over $100k in four months as a coach – before quitting my job. 

As I talked about briefly, I’ve never had employees, though. Not one. 

Instead, I put together a small team of freelancers who helped me…

• Focus on things only I could do
• Work fewer hours 
• Scale to eight figures

Ultimately, my business is one example (out of many) that shows you can be a long-term solopreneur and STILL have a huge impact. 

Jackie Aina

Jackie Aina is a prime example of successful solopreneurship: 

Thanks to her background as a makeup artist, she became a beauty influencer to a niche audience (women of color). 

And it works: She has millions of fans and partners with major brands like Sephora. 

Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh Torabi is a best-selling author, podcaster, and personal finance expert. But… not so long ago, she was a penniless 22-year-old living in NYC.

In other words? She’s relatable. 

And because she chose a specific niche, she’s been able to focus on helping a specific demographic – while building a name for herself as the go-to expert in the personal finance world.

What’s next? 

So, there you have it! 

Now you know the key differences between solopreneurs and entrepreneurs.

If the idea of building a streamlined business that’s profitable (WITHOUT being overwhelmingly big) appeals to you, just know it’s possible. 

I’ve done it, and I’ve helped thousands of students start their own successful solopreneurships too.

If you’re disillusioned by your “safe” 9-5 and want more purpose, money, and free time, here’s everything you need to know to build a solopreneurship that will give you that life:

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Then you’ll want to read this guide first. It covers the exact steps you need to follow.

Plus, I share the top one-person business ideas.

Ready to dive in? Let’s go.

• How to start a one-person business:
• Find a business idea
• Start your business on the side
• Set up your business
• Get your first client
• Outsource to other businesses

What is the one-person business model?

A one-person business is one run by an entrepreneur on their own. There’s no distinction between the owner and the business and the owner is the sole person in charge of the business. They might outsource work to other businesses on a contractual basis. 

The owners of such businesses are also called “solopreneurs.”

More and more people are discovering the freedom and fulfillment of running a one-person business.

In fact, over 80% of small businesses in the US are managed solo. That’s over 27 million one-person businesses.

Now, you can have a team – even as a one-person business. That’s what I do. While I’m the only employee in my business I have a team of contractors I’ve worked with for years.  

Want to join the solopreneur club?

Then keep reading to find out how to start your own one-person business.

How to start a successful one-person business in 5 steps

Setting up your one-person business is very exciting. But many people think that doing it on your own will make things extra complicated.

It really doesn’t have to be that way, though.

Here are five important steps to follow:

1. Find a business idea and model

Your solopreneur journey starts with finding the right business idea.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. Instead, focus on what you’re good at and what people need.

Go for a business model that lets you get started ASAP.

Coaching, consulting, and freelancing are great examples.

They offer high-profit margins AND have minimal startup costs.

Plus, you can dive into them right away.

That’s because these business models are built on productizing your existing knowledge and skills.

The final “product” can be a service, but it could also be items, like ebooks, online courses, or templates.

When I first started my business, I opted for coaching/consulting for those exact reasons.

I had learned digital advertising at my day job, so I set up a side hustle and started providing consulting services. 

Eventually, I branched out to courses. In that first year, I was able to quit my day job and scale my business to seven figures. (Note: I had experience of building businesses, so I didn’t start from scratch. But one-person businesses can be scalable.

Now, to boost your income, you also need to pick a good niche. That’s your specialization.

When you target a specific audience with a specific problem, your business is more likely to become their top choice.

Not sure what your niche will be?

Think about what skills people often ask for your help with.

What expertise do you bring to the table?

In other words: What’s your unique selling point?

In this video, I share how to find your niche with just ONE sentence::

Once you’ve found your business idea, the next step is to make sure it’ll work.

That’s where market research comes in. Talk to potential clients directly to understand what they want and need.

With a solid idea and some research under your belt, you’re ready to launch your one-person business.

BUT don’t quit your day job just yet…

2. Start your business on the side

Look, I get it — the urge to quit your job and dive headfirst into entrepreneurship can be strong.

But I recommend you not to do that — at least not YET.

Starting your business on the side is a SMART move.

Doing so will help you avoid a common mistake many new entrepreneurs make: Quitting too soon.

Those stories of people striking gold after quitting their job?

Unfortunately, they’re the exception, not the rule…

Launching your business without a plan often leads to burnout.

And feeling pressured to make quick money to cover bills?

That just increases risky decisions…

Here’s the thing: You want to set your business up for long-term success.

And for that, you need a strategic approach.

For example, I built my business to six figures in sales BEFORE leaving my job.

Having that financial security allows you to make strategic decisions.

Plus, it gives you the freedom to invest in resources and gain clients gradually.

Sure, juggling both means you’ll have less time. But again, it’s all about being strategic.

Instead of burning yourself out by sacrificing sleep or waking up really early, focus on maximizing the limited time you do have.

And don’t waste that time on low-impact activities.

Instead, prioritize the tasks that move your business forward, like getting clients.

Want to learn more about managing your time wisely? Then check out this video I put together for you:

Now that you know why starting your business on the side is such a power move, let’s look at how to actually set it up.

3. Set up your business

Great, it’s time to officially set up your business!

But… how do you even get started with that?

Good news: It’s easier than you might think.

To make the process as smooth as possible for you, I’ve put together this handy checklist.

For now, let’s take a quick look at three important steps:

• Business structure: For a small one-person business, your best bet might be a sole proprietorship. It’s easy to set up and doesn’t require much paperwork.
• Registration: Registering your business can be straightforward. Often, you just need to inform your local or state government of your business name. And if you’re  operating under your own name, you might not even have to register at all. Still, skipping registration could mean missing out on legal and tax benefits.
• Licenses and certifications: Always check if you need any licenses or permits BEFORE selling your services or products. Unless you’re in fields like medicine, law, or accounting, you’ll probably be able to skip this step. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, check your local requirements.

While you’re setting up your business, I know it might seem like you absolutely need to write everything out in an elaborate business plan.

But that’s actually a common myth I’d like to dispel.

Here’s my advice:

You don’t really need a business plan.

And you definitely don’t need a complex one.

A business plan can offer clarity and direction. But creating one is only useful if it leads to ACTION.

That’s why it’s best to go for a simple one-page plan.

Keep it concise and action oriented to avoid getting stuck in planning mode.

So, which actions should you focus on?

In the beginning, your top priority should be getting your first clients/customers.

That’s the next step…

4. Get your first client

OK, you got your business basics sorted.

Now,where do you find your first few clients so you can start making some sales?

Let me walk you through the process.

The first step? Market research.

That’s how you figure out where your clients are.

Wherever that is, you should be there too. And offer them consistent value.

You see, nobody knows you yet.

So, your job is to show why investing in your service or product is the smart thing to do.

Want to keep it simple?

Then you can do what I did:

Through my market research, I discovered that my ideal clients were in a handful of Facebook groups.

So, I joined those groups.

Next, I promised myself that every day for the next four weeks, I’d go on Facebook and spend an hour or two answering specific questions people had.

By offering this valuable free advice, I built a lot of credibility.

And that’s how I landed my first few clients.

Another (very) important tip: Don’t overwhelm yourself.

Instead, focus on one client/customer at a time.

And every happy client or customer means a new testimonial and/or review for you.

Be sure to share these! They’re like magnets for more business.

Suddenly, you’re not just another business — you’ve got proof of success.

And success draws people in.

In this video, I share the exact strategies I used to build my business as fast as I did:

I’ll be honest with you though:

As a solopreneur, I didn’t do it ALL alone. And neither will you.

Let me explain…

5. Get support

The word “solopreneur” might make you think you have to figure everything out on your own.

But that’s not the case.

Getting the right support is a game-changer.

There’s a saying that goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

This applies to one-person businesses too.

Early on, I got advice from top advisors and coaches.

Their input really helped speed up my growth.

Now, it’s my turn to offer advice. To this day, I’ve helped hundreds of my students grow their businesses to six figures and beyond.

Why?

Because I love helping others achieve what I did:

Running a successful FREEDOM business that lets me live life on my terms.

I share my years of experience to simplify the journey for others.

That’s also why I created my Employee to Entrepreneur (ETE) program.

It outlines clear steps to build a thriving online business. And it’s exactly the kind of help I wished I had when I started.

Another great way to get support?

Outsource some of your tasks to freelancers.

At first, you might want to figure things out on your own. But once your business is starting to bring in five to six figures?

That’s when outsourcing becomes not just helpful but necessary.

It’s a great way to expand your business.

Plus, it frees up a lot of your time and energy.

Awesome! Now you know how to start your one-person business.

But what are the best business ideas for going solo?

Let’s look at those next.

28 one-person business ideas you can start

Picking the right business model will set you up for long-term success.

To help you make the choice, I’ve gathered the top one-person business ideas.

Let’s explore them together.

Coaching

Coaching lets you make money with what you’re already good at.

You do much more than just give advice — you offer your clients a real transformation.

And guess what?

People are willing to pay a lot for this kind of change.

That’s why most of my students are able to earn six to seven figures with their coaching business alone.

Consulting

Consulting is another great way to leverage your current skills.

As a consultant, you dive straight into problem-solving mode for your clients.

You’ll take on the following tasks:

• Analyze data
• Pinpoint issues
• Map out strategies
• Put those strategies into action
• Evaluate your work
• Present its impact

Because you bring such high-value solutions, consulting can be VERY lucrative.

Selling online courses

Got knowledge to share?

Then package it into an online course.

Building a course takes some effort. But once it’s live, it’s yours to sell over and over.

In other words: It’s a great source of passive income.

My advice?

Start with coaching or consulting. Then transform your offer into a course.

Virtual assistant  

Becoming a virtual assistant (or VA) is a great idea if you like taking care of things like:

• Admin
• Scheduling
• Email management
• Data entry

Specializing in areas like bookkeeping or social media can boost your income as a VA.

Plus, the more tasks you take on, the fewer freelancers your clients have to hire.

That means more income for you.

Selling digital products 

Like online courses, creating digital products can take some time.

But once they’re ready, they can bring in passive income for YEARS.

Two other big benefits of digital products:

• There’s no inventory to store
• There’s no shipping involved

The key is to make products that solve a problem.

Some popular examples are:

• Planners
• Templates
• Guides
• Checklists

Blogging

Blogging lets you dive into topics you love, including anything from health to entrepreneurship.

You can post your content on:

• Your own site
• Someone else’s blog (guest blogging)

If you go with your own blog, it could earn money through ads and sales — but growing followers takes time.

Meanwhile, guest blogging leads to instant visibility. That said, they often prefer writers with an existing audience.

Freelance writing

Freelance writing is another way to make money through text.

Besides blogging, there are many other options for freelance writers:

• Ghostwriting
• Business proposal writing
• Copywriting
• SEO content creation

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make landing gigs easier, but they take a cut of whatever you earn.

Another catch? Your paycheck matches your workload.

That’s why you need a profitable niche and well-paying clients.

Affiliate marketing

The concept of affiliate marketing is simple:

Share your favorite products or services, and if someone buys, you get a commission.

That means you’ll probably need a big following to be profitable, though…

The best strategy?

Use affiliate marketing as part of an existing business.

Grow your audience first, then add in affiliate deals to boost your income.

Translating

If you’re fluent in more than one language, then this business idea might be of interest.

Great translation isn’t just about speaking languages, though.

You need to understand cultural subtleties and industry jargon — think medical or legal fields, where the demand (and pay) is higher.

Content creation 

Content creation is broad.

It could mean you create videos, blogs, social media posts — anything, really.

Typical ways to earn money with content creation include:

• Advertising
• Sponsorships
• Selling your own products
• Affiliate marketing

Besides building up your own audience, you can also create content for others as a freelance content creator.

Tutoring

These days, you can tutor in-person or online.

Of course, working online offers more flexibility. And platforms like Udemy and Teachable simplify the logistics.

That way, you can focus on your students.

The downside?

Your income depends entirely on the hours you put in.

That’s why I recommend also turning your teaching skills into digital courses.

Bookkeeping

The average U.S. bookkeeper earns around $47,000 a year.

But as a freelance bookkeeper, you could earn more.

How? By charging higher rates.

And guess what?

You don’t necessarily need formal qualifications to become a bookkeeper.

The key is EXPERIENCE — and helping your clients get real results.

Become a legal coach

If you have experience in the legal field, becoming a legal coach could be a good choice.

Unlike bookkeepers, however, legal coaches generally do need certain qualifications. That’s because they give  legal advice.

Since this type of coaching is specialized, it often pays very well.

Podcasting

As a podcaster, you share your passion and expertise through audio.

Doing this on your own means you need to wear many hats:

• Content creator
• Editor
• Marketer

And monetization comes from:

• Ads
• Sponsorships
• Memberships
• Affiliate marketing

That said, building up a podcast audience can take a lot of time and effort…

Online fitness training

Online fitness training lets you turn your love for exercise into a business.

You’ll do the following:

• Create workout plans
• Lead online classes
• Coach clients one-on-one

It’s a great way to work from anywhere and help others stay fit.

Real estate agent

Being a real estate agent means you help people buy, sell, and rent homes.

You need to:

• Find the right places
• Talk with buyers and sellers
• Handle all the paperwork

The downsides?

Building a client list takes time — and you have to stay on top of market trends and legal requirements.

Digital marketing service

Digital marketing includes:

• Content marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Email marketing
• Social media marketing

To boost your rates, it’s best to specialize in at least one area.

But​​ the more you can cover, the higher your earning potential.

Social media management

Are you creative and quick thinking? Do you have a knack for digital trends?

Then this business idea could be just right for you.

As a social media manager, you take care of social media accounts.

It’s relatively easy to start.

But the tough part is dealing with the ever-changing rules and algorithms of the social media world.

Resume writing

Through resume writing, you help your clients land jobs.

To succeed, you need:

• A good grasp of language
• A solid understanding of what employers look for

As a resume writer, you can charge per resume or offer packages that also include cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.

Starting out is relatively straightforward, but to increase your rates, you need a strong reputation.

Web developer

Web developers create websites or update existing ones.

You can charge by the hour or per project.

Getting started means finding your first clients and proving your skills.

The real test though?

Keeping up with the tech world’s constant evolution…

Software training

Offering software training means you teach people how to use specific software.

This can range from basic office applications to specialized design or coding tools.

Want to turn this into a source of passive income?

Then bundle your expertise into an online course.

Yoga or fitness instructor 

Becoming a yoga or fitness instructor can be a smart move.

You can teach in groups or offer private lessons.

And you get to set the pace — and the price.

To have a steady income, you’ll need a solid client base. You can expand your reach with virtual sessions.

Event planning

Want to be the go-to person for making events happen?

Whether you’d like to focus on cozy gatherings or big events, you need to be good at:

• Planning
• Paying attention to details
• Creative problem-solving

Running this business solo is certainly doable.

But having a network of reliable vendors and venues makes a big difference.

Graphic designer

As a graphic designer, you specialize in creating visuals like:

• Branding
• Web design
• Ads

Quality trumps quantity here. Aiming for a few high-paying clients makes your business profitable.

And it lets you focus on what you do best: designing.

LinkedIn coaching

Through LinkedIn coaching, you help clients:

• Optimize their profiles
• Network successfully
• Use LinkedIn for career growth

How much you earn depends on your niche and expertise.

But you can increase your rates by offering extra:

• Services, like interview preparation and resume writing
• Resources, like templates or guides

AI consultant

AI consultants  help businesses grow smarter with the right AI implementation and optimization.

The fast pace of AI development is a challenge.

But staying updated on the latest trends can make you a top expert.

Career coaching

As a career coach, you help clients reach their career dreams.

Those dreams could be:

• Landing a new job
• Getting a promotion
• Excelling in their current role

The earning potential in this field is big.

For example, take my student Emily from Cultivitae. She runs a six-figure business helping professionals land their dream jobs.

Handyman

Are you good at fixing things?

A handyman works on tasks like

• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Unclogging drains
• Renovations

If you’ve got experience with that sort of thing, this business idea might be right up your alley.

And if you already have the tools, startup costs are low.

The catch? It’s physically demanding.

Plus, your income depends on how many jobs you can handle.

Dating coaching

Dating coaching is another popular coaching niche.

To increase your rates, it’s best to specialize.

For instance, my student Ruby (Good Gentleman) makes six figures a year coaching ambitious men on dating.

Some other target groups to consider:

• Introverts
• Busy executives
• Seniors reentering the dating world

That’s the full list of the TOP one-person business ideas.

But what are the benefits of being a solopreneur?

Let’s explore that next.

What are the benefits of having a one-person business?

Wondering what makes a one-person business so appealing?

Here are the main benefits:

• Freedom and flexibility: You get to work from anywhere. And you can organize your life just how you like it. Basically, you no longer have to adapt to your work. Rather, you get to shape your work to fit your life.
• Ownership and autonomy: As a solopreneur, you make all the decisions. You can pick projects that excite you and align with your personal values and mission. It’s not just about working — it’s about working on what matters to you.
• Less expensive to start: Starting on your own means a lean setup. This reduces financial pressures and risk. This is especially true if you start your business alongside your full-time job.
• Efficiency: Because you don’t manage a team, you can focus directly on your work. This means more time spent getting things done. You have the freedom to choose what to work on, and how best to do it.

With these advantages, it’s clear why going solo has its perks.

Now, let’s get inspired by looking at some examples of successful one-person businesses.

Examples of successful one-person businesses

There are countless examples of one-person businesses across different industries.

Let’s take a look at some successful ones:

• LuisaZhou.com: I started my business to help others build successful businesses. And through my coaching and online courses, I’ve created a multiple seven-figure business. My success shows that you don’t have to come up with a revolutionary idea. Instead, you just need to figure out what you’re already good at and leverage that to the fullest.
• Spanx: Spanx is a great example of a simple yet effective product idea. Sara Blakely created the brand to solve a common issue: The need for comfortable yet flattering shapewear. She developed a product that women everywhere didn’t know they needed until they tried it. And Spanx quickly grew into a global brand.
• Dell: Dell was founded by Michael Dell. He started it as a small operation in his college dorm, where he customized and sold computers. His business exploded because he found a way to offer value that big companies couldn’t match at the time. This shows the power of understanding your customers’ needs and finding creative ways to meet them.
• Amazon: Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore from his garage. Today, his company is a giant in e-commerce and tech — one that brings in hundreds of billions of dollars every year… and one that completely changed how people shop online.

These examples show that success as a solopreneur comes in many forms.

What will your success story be?

Next steps

And there you have it!

Now you know how to set up your one-person business. Plus, you know the top solopreneur business ideas.

Of course, running a thriving one-person business involves more than just an initial idea.

But having the right strategy from the start sets you up for long-term success.

Ready for the next stage? Then check out my Employee to Entrepreneur (ETE) program.

It’s my six-figure blueprint that lays out exactly how to build a successful online business in straightforward steps.

Want to Build a 6-Figure Coaching Business So You Can Achieve More Freedom?

Get Instant Access To My FREE Ultimate Guide Below!

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Overcome Your Fear of Starting a Business

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How to Start a Side Business from Home

The post How to Start and Run a One-Person Business (+28 Ideas) appeared first on Luisa Zhou.

Turning it into a full-blown business.

Or maybe you want to dip your toes in the business world with the idea of expanding your side hustle later?

Whatever situation you’re in, you’ve come to the right place!

Today, you’ll learn exactly how to turn a side hustle into a business.Plus, I’ll share the top business ideas that pay very well.

Ready to dive in?

Let’s go.

How can you turn a side hustle into a business from home in 8 steps

The steps you need to take are: 

• Find the right business idea
• Create a business plan
• Set goals 
• Understand your finances
• Set up your business structure
• Get clients
• Develop your mindset
• Know when to quit your job

Is it worth it? 

Yes! Having a side business is a low-risk way to:

• Earn some extra money
• Try out different business ideas
• Learn new skills
• Lay the foundation to become your own boss

How do I know? 

I started my own side business while I was in a demanding day job. 

Within four months, I turned that side hustle into a full-time business. 

But that’s four months after I started my business. It took me years and a few failed attempts to figure out what business I wanted to start and how to get clients.

And I’ve put my learnings into the following steps: 

1. Find the right business idea 

Let’s start with some good news:

Your business idea doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to succeed.

The two main things you should look for are:

• Easy setup
• High profit margin

Wondering what types of businesses fulfill these criteria?

Well, three great options are:

• Coaching
• Consulting
• Creating online courses

These business models let you earn money by sharing what you already know.

This means you can get started right away.

And because you offer a high-value service or product, you can charge more too.

That’s what I did – I started selling digital advertising consulting services (a skill I had acquired in my 9-5). 

Because I already had those skills and I could charge a high price for my knowledge, I was able to sell my first package at $5,000.

Think about your own idea:

• Does it have potential to make money?
• And do people want what you’re offering?

Jumping in without this knowledge is risky.

But figuring out your market isn’t too tough.

It’s all about knowing who will buy from you and why.

Now, it may seem like you need to work all this market research out in an elaborate business plan, but that’s not really true.

Let me explain…

2. Create a business plan 

Do you need a business plan to know how to turn a side hustle into a business?

Not quite.

While a business plan can be helpful, it’s not a MUST-have. (I didn’t have one when I started out. Instead, I researched my market and iterated.)

Think of a business plan as a map that shows where you want to go and how you plan to get there.

It should be straightforward and practical — not a thick book.

Unfortunately, many new business owners fall into the following trap:

They try to perfect their business plans, believing it will make them ready to launch.

But guess what…

Too much planning actually slows you down.

What’s most important is to get started.

Use your business plan to organize your thoughts and outline a few key steps, but don’t let it hold you back.

After all, you learn the most by actually doing.

So, keep your plan short and focused on solving your customers’ problems, using your market research.

Next, let’s look at how to set the right goals for your business.

3. Set goals 

To transform your side hustle into a thriving business, you need the right goals.

Goals help you:

• Check your progress
• Tweak your plans
• Keep you from feeling overwhelmed by aiming too high too soon

Just keep in mind:

Not all goals are the same.

To help you succeed, your goals should be:

• Realistic
• Doable

Here’s how to get started:

Break down your BIG goal into smaller, manageable steps.

This method makes your larger goal feel within reach and keeps you motivated.

For example, if your main goal is to live a life of freedom, lay out the smaller goals to get there.

Often, the first subgoal you should aim for is getting your first clients. (But more on how to make that happen in step 6.)

With your goals set, the next move is managing your finances…

4. Take care of your finances

Moving from a side hustle to a full-time business means more financial responsibilities.

Set yourself up for success, by keeping your finances in order.

What’s the first step?

Start by separating your personal and business finances.

This makes tracking your income and expenses much clearer.

What else should you watch?

Well, a few key things like:

• New leads
• Sales inquiries
• Actual sales
• Profit

In this video, I talk about what each metric means for your business:

By monitoring these figures, you see what’s working and can fix what’s not.

This approach helps you understand your business better AND guides you in making smart decisions.

Next up? Making your business official.

5. Set up your business 

Turning your side hustle into an official business doesn’t have to be complicated.

For a smooth transition, follow this checklist I put together for you.

But for now, let’s just look at three important steps:

• Choose your business structure: A sole proprietorship is the simplest form. However, a limited liability company (LLC) offers potential tax benefits and protection against business liabilities.
• Handle the registration: Register your business name with local or state authorities. If you’re operating under your own name, you might not have to register at all. But then you also miss out on legal protections and tax deductions.
• Get any necessary licenses or certifications: This step depends on your industry. For example, selling handmade goods online might not need a license, but offering legal or health advice usually does. Even if it seems like you don’t need anything, always double-check for any local rules. Think of a home business license, an occupational permit, or a DBA (doing business as).

With these steps completed, you’ve laid the foundation to grow your side hustle into a thriving business.

Now, it’s time to focus on getting clients.

6. Get clients

The next step is to find clients.

However, don’t try to do too much too soon.

Instead, focus on one client at a time.

This approach is less overwhelming. Plus, you can use the feedback to keep improving.

Where do you find these clients, though?

Here’s a simple yet effective strategy that works:

Figure out where your potential customers are — and then be there too.

This could be on platforms like Reddit, Instagram, or Facebook.

Every few days, take some time to answer questions and share valuable insights.

The key here is to be CONSISTENT.

That’s how you grab attention and build trust.

With every happy client, you have new testimonials and reviews.

These are priceless for your business.

They prove that you deliver results. And with this proof, even people who were unsure before will be more likely to engage with your business.

In fact, after I landed my first client at $5,000, I struggled to sell my services. 

Until it dawned on me why… I had helped my first client for free for a couple of weeks before she bought from me. 

So she already trusted me – and that’s why she was willing to pay that money.

I realized I had to take a step back and lower my rates temporarily (to $1,500), get a few testimonials to be able to increase my rates.

That’s what I did – and didn’t look back. 

Ready to learn more about winning clients? Then check out this short video:

Getting clients is key, but it’s just as important to develop the right mindset.

Let’s find out how.

7. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset

All the previous steps are super important, but none of them will work if you don’t have the right mindset.

Your mindset is the key to a thriving business.

And to make it big, you need to think like an entrepreneur.

But how do you do that?

Here are three top strategies to develop an entrepreneurial mindset:

• Focus on actions, not numbers: Concentrating on what you can DO to make your business successful keeps you moving forward.
• Become self-motivated by default: Make working on your business a daily habit. Find the time of day when you’re most productive — and stick to it.
• Figure out how you can make things work for you: Instead of doubting whether something will work for you, think about how you can make it work. This proactive attitude helps you think of creative solutions. That’s how you’ll succeed no matter what.

Having an entrepreneurial mindset also means being patient.

This leads us to our next important step…

8. Know when to quit your job 

A big part of moving from a side hustle to a full-time business is quitting your day job.

But that doesn’t mean you NEED to do that just yet.

In fact, it’s much better not to rush it…

Let’s look at a straightforward plan to make sure you’re ready.

It’s called the “321 rule”, and you’ll want at least two of the following requirements in place:

• 3: Have steady sales for at least three months
• 2: 2X your salary to cover surprise expenses and lost employee benefits
• 1: Have a safety net that covers a year of living expenses

Sticking to these rules puts you in a strong position to handle challenges and make strategic decisions.

That’s what I did, too. I built my business to six figures before I quit my job.

And I’m so glad I did because I didn’t have to deal with financial stress on top of building my business. 

Great! You now know how to turn a side hustle into a business.

Next, let’s look at the best side hustle ideas that pay well.

Best side hustle ideas that pay well

As I already explained, if you’re thinking of turning your side hustle into a business, go for a business model that:

• Requires little upfront investment
• Has the potential for big returns

Not sure where to get started?

Let’s take a quick look at the side hustle ideas that can make you the most money:

• Productized services: Turn your skills into packaged services. For example, if you’re good at graphic design or social media management, offer these as fixed packages. This makes your skills easy to sell. (Yes, even if they seem simple to you.)
• Done-for-you business: Handle tasks for clients that they either don’t have time for or lack the expertise to do themselves. This could be anything from website setup to managing social media. Clients appreciate the convenience, and it can lead to repeat business.
• Content creation: Content creation can be very profitable. You could write, start a podcast, create videos, and so on. For instance, my daily email newsletter played a big part in growing my business to eight figures. That said, it takes time to build up an audience.
• Online courses: Share your knowledge through online courses. This requires skills in marketing, teaching, and sales, but can generate a lot of passive income for many years to come. Websites like Udemy and Teachable are perfect for offering your courses to a worldwide audience.
• Digital products: Create digital items like templates, checklists, or planners. Like online courses, these products can be sold repeatedly at no extra cost. You could sell through platforms like Etsy or your own website.

With the right strategy, these side hustles have a high chance of becoming very profitable and sustainable businesses.

All it comes down to is taking that first step.

Next steps

There you have it! You now know exactly how to turn a side hustle into a business.

Being your own boss comes with many benefits. And with the right strategies, mindset, and systems, it’s completely within your reach.

Often, success boils down to your willingness to invest in yourself.

Ready to take the next step?

Then, get my free blueprint where I show you exactly how to go from employee to entrepreneur.  

Want to Build a 6-Figure Coaching Business So You Can Achieve More Freedom?

Get Instant Access To My FREE Ultimate Guide Below!

GET INSTANT ACCESS

When you sign up, you’ll also receive regular updates on building a successful online business.

Read more:

How to Start a Side Business from Home

Finally Go From Employee to Entrepreneur

How to Start a Business While Working Full Time

The post How to Turn a Side Hustle into a Business (+Top Ideas) appeared first on Luisa Zhou.

I’ll share with you 15 remote business ideas that you can start from the comfort of your own home. Plus, the steps to launch one successfully. 

Sound good? Read on. 

Quick overview: 

• Remote businesses are flexible and require less costs
• Consulting, coaching, freelancing, and content creation are a few remote business examples
• You can start a remote business online with your existing skills 

What is a remote business? 

A remote business is a company that doesn’t have a physical office. You and your team can work from anywhere in the world. Remote businesses are typically more flexible and more cost-effective. 

Thinking of starting a remote business? You’re in good company. 

By 2025, 22% of Americans will work remotely and 50% of businesses are started from home.

I’m one of them. 

My business is a fully-remote online business. My team is remote and I work with people all over the world. 

When I got started, the first thing I figured out was my business idea. 

That’s what we’ll talk about in the next section.

15 best remote business ideas to try

If you want to start a business from home, here are 15 profitable ideas: 

Coaching

A coaching business lets you work from anywhere and cash in on what you’re good at. 

As a coach, you advise and guide people on how to achieve their goals in a specific niche. 

And there are a ton of coaching niches out there, including: 

• Health coaching
• Business coaching
• Relationship coaching
• Fitness coaching 

To become a coach, you don’t normally need a certification. But you might need a qualification for some niches, like health or legal coaching.

And you need experience in what you’re coaching on. 

Take my student Emily Liou. 

She was a recruiter for top Fortune 500 companies. With her years of experience, she created a coaching business, Cultivitae, to help people find and secure their dream jobs.

Here’s more on how to start your coaching business (fast): 

Freelance writer

Freelancing is another highly profitable business model that you can do remotely. 

After all, there are thousands of freelance writing jobs on job boards like UpWork, Freelance Writing Gigs, and FlexJobs. 

Depending on your background, you can create a wide range of content, like:

• Copywriting: Sales-based copy like websites, landing pages, and email.
• Content writing: Marketing-based copy like blogs, guest posts, and social media. 
• Ghostwriting: Book creation on behalf of clients.
• Grant writing: Completing applications for grants on behalf of charities and nonprofits.

The average salary for a freelance writer is $73,000 per year. But that’s just the average.

Consulting 

Consulting and coaching are very similar remote business models – but with a key difference. 

A coach helps clients solve their own problems. 

A consultant gives their clients direct solutions. 

As a consultant, you can draw on your own experience to create the best niche for your services. 

Popular niches include:

• IT consulting
• Financial consulting
• HR consulting
• PR consulting

…and so on.

For instance, Anna, a college admissions consultant, helps students get into their dream colleges.

Affiliate marketing 

Want to make passive income? Affiliate marketing is a popular remote business model.

And it’s a $17 billion industry.

So how does it work? 

Affiliate marketers earn a commission on other people’s products. 

To be successful, you need to be able to:

• Build an engaged audience 
• Sell products that are wanted by your niche audience

Bear in mind that it takes time to grow a sizable audience that can sustain your business.

So you might want to build your remote business with a service first and then add affiliate marketing as a secondary income stream.

Web designer 

Most businesses and influencers need a website, but not everyone knows how to create one. 

That’s where you come in. If you have design and light programming skills, you can build a profitable remote business designing websites. 

And guess what? There are thousands of available web design jobs on freelancer marketplaces like UpWork, so you can get started today.

As you build a portfolio, you can start booking clients outside of marketplaces and improve your profit margin. 

My web designer, Laura Patricelli from Design Mastermind, has built a thriving business by bundling her services into easy packages.

Tutoring

Teaching adults or kids online is an accessible way of building a business from home.

You can use sites like:

• Tutor.com
• Pear Deck Learning
• Skooli

Depending on how much time you have and the platform you use, you can reach five, six, or multiple six figures. 

Many years ago, I myself built a six-figure tutoring business (though it was offline).

As for qualifications, it varies. You don’t necessarily need a degree to tutor online, but some platforms require it for certain subjects. 

For example, if you want to teach English, you might need a TEFL qualification. Luckily, it’s easy to find a TEFL course online.

However, these qualifications only apply if you want to work for established online tutoring companies.

If you can build a brand outside of the platforms, you’ll have more control over your prices and the types of clients you tutor.

Photographer

If you have a passion for taking photos, this is for you. 

By starting a photography business, you can be your own boss and do what you love. 

Like with most services, you need to choose a profitable niche first. This will help you market your services within your local community and beyond. 

For example, you could specialize in portraits, branding, events, and so on.

You don’t need any official qualifications, but you do need an amazing portfolio. That and the ability to network will help your business thrive. 

Plus, if you build a strong online presence, you could even work globally.

Virtual assistant 

Becoming a VA could be a good move for you if you’re naturally organized and want to support fellow business owners.

Your daily tasks may include: 

• Email management
• Scheduling
• Admin tasks

If you can specialize in a lucrative niche (like legal virtual assisting), you can increase your income above the average.

Or you can offer services like bookkeeping and social media management to create higher-ticket packages for your clients. 

Marketing services 

The marketing industry grows 5% each year on average. And with businesses spending around 13% of their revenue on marketing, it’s a great industry to join if you have the skills. 

Some services you could offer include: 

• Social media marketing
• SEO
• Digital marketing
• Email marketing

These all work well as productized services that you can sell in packages to clients. That way you can scale your work and grow your business faster.

Now, you might be wondering:

“Don’t you need a marketing degree to work in marketing?” 

It can help, but the most important thing is your results. 

Focus on building a portfolio and you’ll be able to charge high-ticket prices for the transformation you offer. 

Online courses 

Creating an online course can be highly profitable and fulfilling. 

With platforms like Teachable, you don’t even need your own website to build your course.

Plus, you can create a course on any niche – from building tiny homes to training a puppy.

But there’s a caveat: I don’t recommend that you jump into online courses straight away. 

Why? Well, if you’re a new service business owner, you don’t know your audience yet. 

Your audience will tell you what to create as you’ll hear the same questions over and over again.

By creating a course that answers those questions, you’re more likely to be successful.

Here’s more on how to build a course business: 

Travel planner

Some people love traveling but hate travel planning (including me). 

If you love organizing flights, booking hotels, and planning itineraries, you could help us out. 

You might need a license to sell holidays so you’ll need to check the regulations around travel agencies. 

But travel planning, on the other hand, can just involve researching and presenting travel itineraries that the client can book themselves. 

Event planner  

Event planning is a highly fulfilling career and a lucrative business to run. 

It’s also surprisingly low-cost to start. You don’t need much more than an internet connection and a good network of vendors to get started.

Although many event planners make over $80,000 per year, it’s stressful work. 

In fact, event planning is often on the list of most stressful jobs in the world. 

But, if you have a talent for managing a team of creatives and scheduling events, it could be a remote business for you. 

Data entry/analytics  

Data analysts collect, organize, and interpret data on behalf of clients. On the other hand, data entry work involves inputting data from one source to another. 

And it can be highly profitable – especially if you target lucrative industries like law and finance. 

This idea requires some tech knowledge depending on the platforms your clients use, but you don’t need any official qualifications. 

To find data entry jobs, UpWork or Fiverr are great resources. 

As a data analyst, you can pitch to companies directly to outsource their data work. 

And there are plenty of listings on LinkedIn too.

Editing or translation services

Translation is a great business for anyone fluent in two or more languages. 

If you want to make a thriving business, it helps to become accredited but you don’t have to. Like with most services, the results and your contacts are more important. 

If you can make a deal with publishing houses and prove your work, you can succeed without a qualification. 

Editing is similar. 

Multiple businesses hire editors including online publications, publishing houses, newspapers, self-published authors, and so on.

As a remote editing or translation business, you can work with clients from around the world. 

That widens your work opportunities – especially if you’re fluent in a niche language.

Accounting or bookkeeping service

There are around 1.65 million accountants in the US, and it continues to be in demand. 

As an accountant or bookkeeper, you can help businesses and individuals manage their finances. 

But to do that, you’ll need a degree or diploma in accounting or bookkeeping. 

Some states also require a license before opening an accounting business as opposed to working for a corporate employer. 

Remote accountants can charge more for their services and diversify their clientele. Therefore, accounting or bookkeeping can be highly profitable.

Next, let’s take a look at why starting a remote business can be a good idea. 

What are the benefits of running a remote business?

Starting a remote business comes with many benefits.

Here are four:

• More freedom and flexibility: Owning a remote business means you can work from anywhere at any time. Therefore, you can adapt your work to family obligations, travel, and other important areas of your life.
• Reach more talent: Not only can you reach a global audience as a remote business, but you can also recruit from around the world. So you reach the most talented people in their field.
• Faster business growth: Because remote businesses tend to be highly profitable, you can grow faster. How? By reinvesting business profits into growing the business. You can also sell more one-to-many products online, which increases your profit margin even more. 
• Lower overhead costs/profitability: Running a remote business typically means you have lower expenses. For example, you don’t need office spaces to pay for. 

Now that you know the benefits of running a remote business, let’s take a look at how to start your own.

How do you start a remote business? 

To start a remote business, you need to:

• Create a plan for your business
• Set up your business
• Build your team
• Get your first clients

Though not necessarily in that order… Let’s talk about it. 

1. Create a plan for your business

Creating a plan for your business is NOT the same as creating a business plan. 

Let me explain. 

A business plan is great if you’re looking for funding. But most remote businesses don’t need one. 

The most important things you need to know are:

• Your niche
• Your services
• Your plan to get clients

First, your niche is your specialization. 

For example, my niche when I started my business was to help small businesses use digital advertising to grow their businesses.  

I had acquired those skills in my 9-5.

To figure out your niche, take a look at your skills and interests. 

Need help? Watch this video:

Once you know your niche, it’s time to define your services. 

Creating packages doesn’t need to be complicated. You can look at similar businesses to yours for inspiration on how they price their work and the types of services they offer. 

My advice is to keep it simple.

Distill your work into one core service. (And price it depending on the services you offer. For example, when you’re starting out, a coaching or consulting package can be priced at $1,500.)

That way, you can price your work for the results you create, not the hours you spend. 

Plus, you can standardize your services so it’s easier to train others when you expand your team. 

As for your plan for getting clients, we’ll talk about that in detail in a later section.

Tip: If you want a business plan to define these things, I have a template for a one-page business plan here.

2. Set up your business

Want a clear roadmap for setting up your business today? 

This checklist will help.

However, let’s go over the legal part. 

How do you register your remote business? 

First, you need to decide which business structure makes the most sense for you. 

There are two main legal structures to choose from: 

• Sole proprietorship
• Limited liability company (LLC)

(The IRS talks about both in detail here.)

They have different registration and management processes, so it’s important to choose the easiest and cheapest option to start. 

Remember: 

You can always change your business structure as your business grows. 

Now what about licensing and certifications? 

This completely depends on your niche. 

For example: 

If you’re starting an accounting agency, you’ll need the relevant qualifications and licenses to carry out your services. 

On the other hand, work like photography, marketing, virtual assisting, and writing don’t require any qualifications or licenses to get started. 

I didn’t have a digital advertising certification when I started my business – the results I helped my clients get were the proof they needed to hire me. 

Bottom line: Research the legalities around your chosen niche in your state and make sure you comply before you start trading. 

Next up: Building a team.

3. Build your team

A common myth is that you need a team to build a successful business. 

The truth is, it depends on the business you want to build. 

Kat Boogaard is an example of a six-figure freelance writer who built her business on her own.

But, if you want to scale your remote business, it can help to build a team to lighten your load. 

You can start by hiring contractors for specific tasks, like having a virtual assistant to help with admin. 

The benefits of working with contractors are:

• You have more flexibility with their work contract. (For example, you don’t have to fulfill full-time or part-time hours.)
• You don’t have any overhead costs.
• You don’t need to pay employment taxes.
• You can scale your business faster.

On the other hand, full-time employees are more dedicated to your business and can help you scale your services. 

Example: 

Say you own a coaching business. You can hire more professional coaches to service more clients and raise your revenue.

I personally work with an amazing team of contractors, many of whom have been part of my business for many years. 

When hiring, think about the skills and qualities you need in an employee. 

It’s not just about what they’re like on paper, but also how they’ll fit into your company culture. 

So be clear in your job description the exact type of person you’re looking for. 

From there, the interview stage is crucial. 

Ask them about their experience, schedule, and payment expectations. 

Be clear about your expectations and the day-to-day requirements of the role.

If you find the right fit, make a compelling offer.

Once you’ve made an offer, onboard your new team member by sharing all the processes and systems you’ve set up for your business. 

As you keep working together, give consistent feedback to help them grow.

Note: I recommend that you work with a few clients by yourself and learn what help you need before hiring anyone (employees or contractors). 

Let’s talk about that in the next section.

4. Get your first clients

How do you find your first clients? 

To start, focus on getting one or two clients to begin with. 

That way, you can refine your services and learn how to manage your remote business. 

With that goal in mind, looking for clients becomes way easier. 

Let’s look at some effective, “low-hanging-fruit” strategies for making your first sale: 

• Tap into your network: Your network is one of the best, untapped resources for finding clients. After all, your friends and family want to see you succeed. Let them know the service you offer – they might need them or know someone who does.
• Master one social media platform: Think about where your target audience likes to hang out online. Focusing on that one platform, create high-quality posts that educate and entertain your audience. As you interact with your followers and build connections, you can offer your services to the people who resonate with your work.
• Join industry podcasts: If you don’t have an audience yet, podcasts can help you reach more people. Pitch yourself as a guest expert on podcasts in your niche. You’ll benefit from the credibility and trust the podcast already has with its established audience.

It takes effort in the beginning to get your first clients. That’s why I tell my students to focus on one strategy at a time.

I used Facebook groups (which were big at the time) to find my first clients. 

I then mastered other areas of the platform, including livestreams, groups, and advertising. 

That helped me grow to multiple seven figures. It was only years later that I turned to other marketing channels, such as YouTube and search engine optimization. 

Once you make your first sales and learn more about your audience, finding future clients becomes exponentially easier.

Next steps 

So now you know how to create a thriving remote business.

Starting a business from the comfort of your home can be fulfilling and freeing.

But there’s a lot more you need than a good remote business idea to be successful.

Want a clear step-by-step plan? 

Get my FREE blueprint that teaches you how to go from employee to remote entrepreneur: 

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Read more:

Overcome Your Fear of Starting a Business

Finally Go From Employee to Entrepreneur

The Best Six-Figure Business Ideas

The post 15 Best (Fully) Remote Business Ideas from Home appeared first on Luisa Zhou.