If you love the idea of taking huge business risks… this article isn’t for you.

BUT if you’re looking for low-risk business ideas that can help you do things like…

• Replace your 9-to-5 income (without quitting first)
• Work from anywhere
• Get excited about Mondays

… then you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s get started.

What business has the lowest risk? 

The least risky businesses are high-value service-based businesses, such as coaching, consulting, and freelancing. You sell your existing skills and don’t need to develop a new product while getting paid a good hourly rate ($100+). 

What makes a business less risky? 

Starting any business involves a certain amount of risk. In fact, only 25% of businesses are still around after 15 years.

But here’s the thing…

There are plenty of ways to minimize risk. I’m not a fan of risk either, but despite that, I started a thriving eight-figure business. 

How?

Here are a few things that helped:

For one thing, I started small. I didn’t take out a $100k loan or hire ten employees on day one. (In fact, I still don’t have any full-time employees). 

Heck, I didn’t even have a website.

What I did have was marketable skills that I used to test different ideas, like an Excel tutoring business. 

Also, because I was building a business on the side, I didn’t have the pressure of thinking, “I won’t be able to pay my rent if this fails.”

So, here’s what I recommend you do:

• Start small. You don’t need outside funding or employees to have a high-profit business
• Don’t quit your job just yet: Work on your business on the side until it replaces your income 
• Pick a business model that aligns with your goals, and learn from people who are where you want to be

Okay, now let’s get into the good stuff…

The most low-risk businesses that are also highly profitable. 

24 safest businesses you can start from home 

Here are the top low-risk business ideas I recommend.

1. Coaching

As a coach, you ’d help your clients solve a problem they have. 

What kind of problem?

The options are virtually limitless. 

For example, getting low conversion rates is a problem. But so is low self-esteem or unhealthy eating habits.

And here’s why coaching is a great low-risk, high-profit idea: 

One, you can use your current skillset, so you generally don’t need some expensive certification. 

And two, you can charge $1,500 for 3 months of coaching as a new coach, which will help you quickly replace the income from your job. 

I’m biased about coaching…

Not only have I built a successful coaching business myself, but I’ve also helped thousands of students do the same:

Dig deeper: How to Become a Coach

2. Consulting

What’s the difference between coaching and consulting?

Consulting is about identifying a client’s problem and then solving it for them. 

For example, a consultant might help a business figure out why sales are down – and then create a plan to fix it.

Consultants do the heavy lifting themselves – rather than guiding clients to the answers, as a coach would.

So, again, like with coaching, there are all kinds of niches you could look into. 

And if you have the right skills, you can get started today – no need to waste time and money on certifications, outside funding, or even a website. 

Dig deeper: How to Become a Successful Consultant (8 Steps) 

3. Selling online courses 

I’m a big fan of online courses. For one thing, they can be incredibly valuable for your target audience, which feels great. 

Quick example: 

My Employee to Entrepreneur course helps people transition from working a 9-5 to building their own successful business. 

I’ve had countless students share stories of how they’ve used my course to scale their businesses to six- and seven-figures:

What are some other perks of selling online courses?

• Many course topics to choose from
• Great earning potential 
• Low risk

Dig deeper: How To Create an A High-Quality Online Course (Step-By-Step From Scratch) 

4. Blogging 

As a blogger, you’d use your own website to publish blog posts for a particular audience.

There are countless examples of successful bloggers out there.

For example:

Charlotte Smith, the blogger behind At Charlotte’s House, started an interior design blog back in 2012 – with zero experience. And since then, she’s been featured on big platforms like HGTV.

What makes blogging a safe option with potentially huge returns?

A few reasons:

• No previous experience required
• Minimal upfront costs
• You can diversify your revenue (partnerships, affiliate links, and so onetc.)

Dig deeper: How to Start a Profitable Business Blog (& Sell More) 

5. Content creation

As we just saw, blogging is a great option for starting a low-risk, high-reward content creation business. 

But there are plenty of other forms of content creation you could choose. 

For example, video content is also a solid choice because there’s a huge demand.  

The question is, what do you want to talk about? What kind of audience do you want to attract? 

Start there. 

Once you have a defined niche, getting traction will be easier.

Again, depending on what kind of content creation business you choose, getting started doesn’t have to cost a fortune – and despite that, your earning potential can be huge.

Dig deeper: How to Become a Content CreatorHow To Make Money on YouTube: 7 Simple Strategies 

6. Selling digital products  

What makes digital products a low-risk business option? 

Easy: You don’t have to deal with inventory, shipping, or other costs typically associated with selling products.

So, if sales don’t pan out, it’s not the end of the world.

Random example: Let’s say you create a digital planner, and… crickets. You don’t get sales. 

In that case? 

You can learn from your mistakes and try again – without facing bankruptcy, as some businesses would.

And here’s the thing: 

What I just outlined is the worst-case scenario. There are plenty of ways to successfully sell digital products and make a lot of money doing it. 

I’ve done it, and I’ve helped others do it, so I know it’s possible.

Dig deeper: The 16 Most Profitable Digital Products To Sell (+Where) 

7. Virtual assistant  

Virtual assistants (VAs) help businesses or individuals with business-related tasks – from scheduling appointments to posting on social media.

One perk of going this route? 

You can get started today, with little or no investment. 

Take Rebecca Morassutti, for example. 

She was tired of her 9-to-5 and started working as a VA on the side. 

Four months later, she quit – and last year, she made $144,000. 

Dig deeper: Embracing the Future: How to Become a Virtual Assistant

8. Freelancing

Freelancing is another skill-based business idea that you can start immediately, without outside funding or loans.

There are all kinds of things you could offer as a freelancer.

For example, you could:

• Write website copy or blogs
• Design graphics
• Develop apps

One perk about freelancing (besides the fact that it’s low-risk, high-profit) is that you can work from virtually anywhere, which gives you more freedom.

Dig deeper: How To Become a Freelancer: The Complete Guide

9. Affiliate marketing 

The affiliate marketing industry will be worth over $27 billion by 2027, so there’s money to be made here. 

And the concept is simple: You promote another brand’s products or services in exchange for commissions. Plus, it doesn’t cost anything to become an affiliate.

To maximize your earnings, though, build an audience you can promote to first. For example, you could drive traffic through a blog, a YouTube channel, a podcast, etc.  

Dig Deeper: 20 best affiliate programs for online creators

10. Tutoring 

As a tutor, you’d help people make progress on a particular subject, like math or music. 

What are the benefits?

For one thing, you can start tutoring using your current skills. That saves time AND money. 

Plus, you can set your own rates, which gives you more control over your income. 

There are plenty of platforms where you can sell tutoring, such as Preply.

Dig deeper: How to Make Money Online Tutoring: 12 Best Job Sites 

11. Translation service 

Translation involves converting text from one language to another. 

There are a lot of niches you could specialize in, from working with doctors to helping businesses.

YAnd though you should master at least two languages before getting started, you generally don’t need any formal qualifications.

Some platforms to get started on include iTalki and Lingoda.

Dig deeper: How to Become a Translator: A Student’s Complete Guide

12. Podcasting 

Starting a podcast requires minimal upfront costs, but the return on investment can be huge. 

Here’s a quick statistic: 

Almost 505 million people listen to podcasts. 

In other words? 

There’s already a huge audience out there you could engage with and monetize. 

But first, pick a niche so you know who your listeners are and what they want. 

Dig deeper: How to Make Money Podcasting: 12 Effective Ways 

13. Digital marketing agency 

The amount spent on digital marketing is expected to surpass $660 billion in 2024.

These days, many businesses turn to agencies to help them reach more clients and increase sales.

That’s where you’d come in.

By starting a digital marketing agency, you could specialize in a certain type of marketing, like content marketing or SEO, and choose what kind of clients to work with.

Another perk? As an online business owner, youyou’lld have lower overhead costs and higher profit margins – which ultimately translates to less risk. 

Dig deeper: How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency From Scratch 

14. Resume writing 

Resume writing is an ideal business idea because the upfront costs are minimal, but there’s a big market for your services. and you can earn a lot. 

For example:

T, the average resume writing service costs $631, but you can charge significantly more depending on your specialty and the results you offer.

Dig deeper: How To Start a Resume Writing Business in 6 Steps

15. Career coaching 

Career coaches help their clients reach their career goals – from getting a promotion to changing industries altogether. 

For example, my client Emily used her experience as a Fortune 500 recruiter to make the switch to career coaching. And now, she helps people land their dream jobs through her business, Cultivitae.

But here’s the thing… You don’t need a recruiting background to become a career coach. What matters most is being able to help your clients get results. 

And to do that, the first step is to pick a niche so you know who you’re trying to help and what their specific problems are:

Dig deeper: How to Become a Successful Career Coach: 4 Steps 

16. Software training 

If you understand complex software and know how to explain things in plain English, consider starting a software training business. 

These days, software is everywhere. Which means? 

Knowing how to use it is incredibly valuable. But at the same time, software programs are often complex and less accessible to the average user. 

By offering training sessions to businesses or individuals, you could make money teaching skills you already have – while keeping your overhead costs low.

Dig deeper: 4 Ways to Make Teaching Complex Software Easier 

17. Social media management 

We covered digital marketing a bit earlier, so what makes social media management different?

Social media management focuses exclusively on social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, and so onetc.) whereas digital marketing has a broader focus.

Okay, but what makes social media management a solid business choice? 

There’s a huge demand, and overhead costs are low. (If you need experience, though, there are tons of courses available at little or no cost).

Dig deeper: How to start a social media management business 

18. Graphic design  

Graphic designers need to learn industry-standard graphic design tools, like InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. 

It also helps to know about design theory.

With that said…

You DON’T need a degree in graphic design to start a graphic design business.

Having the right skills matters a lot more than having the right degree.

Dig deeper: How to Start a Graphic Design Business

19. Event management 

What makes event management a low-risk business idea?

For one thing, startup costs are low. In fact, you can get started with just a computer and an internet connection.

Plus, there’s clearly a demand: Event management jobs are expected to grow by 8% between 2022 and 2032. 

Dig deeper: How to Start an Event Planning Business from Home 

20. Photography 

As a photographer, your biggest expenses would be getting the right camera and tools, including Photoshop and Lightroom.

Once you have the right equipment and skills, though, you can earn great money and choose from a variety of different niches. 

Dig deeper: How to Start A Photography Business

21. Web developing  

Web development is all about building and maintaining websites and apps. 

What makes it a great low-risk business idea?

For one thing, there’s a huge demand: Web development will grow by 16% from 2022-2032 – much faster than average. 

Plus, there are plenty of resources online to help you learn, and you don’t need a big investment to get started.

Dig deeper: 15 Reasons to Start a Web Development Business 

22. Real estate 

You can make money in real estate even if you’re risk-averse. 

For example, if you have a large house, consider renting out extra rooms for monthly cash flow – WITHOUT having to invest in a new property.

Dig deeper: 15 Ways to Start Investing in Real Estate With Little or No Money

23. YouTube channel creator   

YouTube has nearly 2.5 billion monthly users, so there’s a huge audience to tap into.

As a creator, you can earn money in a variety of different ways, including YouTube AdSense and sponsorships. You can even start and run YouTube channels for clients.

And because all you really need to get started is a decent camera, the barrier to entry (and risk involved) is low. 

Dig deeper: 10 Tips for Starting a YouTube Channel

24. Personal trainer

As a personal trainer, there are a lot of niches to choose from.

For example, you could help athletes build muscle or seniors lose weight.

The first step? 

Get an accredited certification, like the ones offered by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), or the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).

Dig deeper: 12 Tips for Starting a Successful Personal Trainer Business 

How to choose a low-risk business idea

Now that we’ve looked at many different low-risk business ideas, how can you pick the right one for YOU?

The first step is nailing your niche. 

So, think about what problems people have that you could solve for them. As we saw, there are all kinds of things you could choose, from coaching to event management.

With that said… Don’t just pick something because you’re good at it. Pick a business idea you can see yourself committing to long-term. 

Once you think you know what you want to do, validate your idea through market research. In other words, is there a demand for what you want to offer?

Because the thing is, finding that out is a key part of minimizing risk. (You can check out these tools to get started.)

Okay, up next: Let’s see what low-risk businesses look like in real life.

Low-risk business examples

Now that we’ve covered how to choose a low-risk business idea, let’s look at some specific examples:

LuisaZhou.com 

– I want to mention my own business first because I’m so risk averse. Hi, it’s me, Luisa. 

I started various low-risk businesses before founding LuisaZhou.com and helping people quit their jobs to work for themselves. 

I sell both coaching and courses – something I loveI love coaching because I’ve seen firsthand how scalable they areit is and what a huge impact theyit can have on people’s lives.

TopLawSchoolConsulting.com 

– Remember how I said one benefit of consulting is that you can start now, with the skills you already have? 

That’s exactly what Mara Freilich, the founderface behind Top Law School Consulting, does. She got into her dream law school and now helps other peoplestudents do the same.

AcademyofAnimatedArt.com 

– AAA was founded by two senior light artists who saw a hole in the market for helping students land jobs in the competitive animation industry. 

And it worked. Since its founding, several hundred students have used AAA’s courses and mentorship opportunities to jumpstart their careers. 

Ultimately, here’s the bottom line: You don’t have to start the next Walmart or McDonald’s and risk huge amounts of money to have a profitable business. 

Next steps

So, there you have it! Now you know the top low-risk business ideas that will help you maximize your returns. As you can see, you have a lot of options.

Not sure where to start?

If you’re serious about becoming your own boss so you can finally quit your 9-to-5, here’s my tried-and-tested guide to help you get there:

Read more:

How to Start a Profitable Service Business with No Experience 

What is a Productized Service? How to Start + Examples

The Best Service Business Ideas