9 Lifestyle Business Ideas (That Actually Work)

Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by John Cirelly

If you want to live life on your own terms, you’ll need full control over your time, and income. A lifestyle business is a business that works around you, not the other way around.

To get inspired, I’ve compiled 9 of the best lifestyle business ideas so you can start making your dreams a reality.

Lifestyle Business Ideas For 2024

1. Become A Freelancer

Becoming a freelancer has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my lifestyle business. I can choose my hours, work from anywhere, and pick and choose who I want to work with. Freelancing is a natural stepping stone to running a business and is one of the fastest ways you can escape a job you hate.

The best part about freelancing is that there are so many different skills that can be monetized. Whether you’re a writer, graphic designer, web developer, or social media manager, there’s always a demand for these skills. You can even offer consulting services or become a virtual assistant to those who need administrative support.

However, keep in mind that freelancing requires discipline, organization, and effective communication skills to succeed. You need to be able to manage your time effectively, communicate with clients clearly, and deliver high-quality work on time. It can be challenging at times, but with dedication and hard work, it can be a lucrative and rewarding lifestyle business.

2. Start A Print On Demand Business

Starting a print-on-demand business is a fantastic lifestyle business idea for anyone who wants to turn their creativity into a profitable venture. With print-on-demand, you can design and sell your own custom products without ever having to worry about inventory or shipping logistics.

Here’s how it works: you design a product (such as t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases) and upload your design to a print-on-demand website like Printful, Redbubble, or Zazzle. When a customer orders one of your products, the website handles the printing and shipping directly to the customer. You get a percentage of the sale as your profit.

The key to success in print-on-demand is to create designs that resonate with your target audience. Whether it’s funny slogans or beautiful artwork, your designs need to stand out and appeal to potential customers.

For example, making funny mugs just for teachers, and even having different mugs for each grade. Print-on-demand businesses don’t even require artistic skills. Platforms like Vexels make it easy to customize premade designs and start selling right away.

Lastly, you’ll need grit and consistency to put out dozens of designs to find which ones sell.

3. Amazon FBA

Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is a popular lifestyle business idea that allows entrepreneurs to sell products on Amazon while leveraging Amazon’s extensive fulfillment network. With Amazon FBA, you can ship products from China to Amazon’s warehouses, and Amazon will handle the packing, shipping, and customer service for you.

The key to success with Amazon FBA is to choose a product with high demand and low competition, and offer competitive pricing and exceptional customer service. You’ll also need to continuously monitor and optimize your product listings to maintain your margins and stay up to date with Amazon’s policies and guidelines.

While selling physical products isn’t for everyone, it can be a game-changer for someone who’s driven enough to see it through.

4. Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products is a smart lifestyle business idea that can yield passive income. Digital products can be delivered electronically, such as e-books, courses, or software.

First, identify your expertise and develop a product that addresses a need in your niche. For example, a graphic designer can offer digital design templates online.

A few more examples include:

• Checklists
• Excel Templates
• Digital Tools
• Etsy Printables
• Cheat Sheets
• Plugins

To market your product, leverage social media, email marketing, or paid ads. Optimize your sales funnel and customer experience to boost conversions.

Selling digital products is a profitable source of passive income that offers the flexibility to work from anywhere. By implementing a solid product and marketing strategy, you can monetize your skills and expertise.

5. Start A Blog

I might be a bit biased, but running a blog is one of my favorite ways to build a lifestyle business. While blogs can be slow to grow, they bring in consistent traffic each month that earns you money.

To start blogging, pick a topic you’re knowledgeable about. You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to enjoy it and know more than an average person about it. Next, pick up a domain at NameCheap, then secure WordPress hosting.

Next, you’ll learn a bit about SEO and how to rank for topics people are searching for. After creating a few dozen blog posts you can start to make money through display ads, affiliate links, sponsorships, and digital products.

Of course, this is vastly simplified for this list. But if you enjoy writing just know it’s completely possible to earn a living running a blog.

6. Starting A YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel is a fantastic lifestyle business idea for those who enjoy creating video content and engaging with an audience. With over 2 billion active users, YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, making it an excellent opportunity to capture attention.

To get started, you’ll need to choose a niche that you’re passionate about and create a channel on YouTube. You should optimize your channel by using relevant keywords and creating high-quality video content that resonates with your target audience.

You can monetize your YouTube channel in various ways, such as using ads, sponsorships, merchandise, or donations from your viewers. Keep in mind that it takes time and dedication to build a substantial following on YouTube, and you’ll need to create consistent, high-quality content to keep your audience engaged.

6. Start A Podcast

Starting a podcast is a great lifestyle business idea for those who enjoy sharing their expertise and engaging with an audience in an audio format. Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, with over 155 million people in the US alone listening to podcasts regularly.

You’ll need to choose a niche that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about and invest in the right equipment, such as a microphone, audio interface, and recording software. Then, you can start creating high-quality audio content and distributing it through platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Once established you can earn income through sponsorships, ads, or merchandise sales. Even though you’re just chatting, podcasting can take a lot of work. Consistency is key!

7. Design A Course To Teach Others

Designing a course to teach others is a fantastic lifestyle business idea for those who have expertise in a particular field and enjoy teaching others. Creating an online course allows you to share your knowledge with a global audience and monetize your expertise.

To get started, you’ll need to choose a topic that you’re knowledgeable about and conduct market research to ensure there’s a demand for it. Then, you’ll need to plan out the course structure, create the content, and choose a platform to host your course.

The key to designing a successful course is to make it engaging, informative, and actionable. You should include a mix of video lectures, interactive exercises, and downloadable resources to keep your students engaged and help them apply what they’ve learned.

You can monetize your course through a one-time fee, subscription model, or offering additional resources for purchase. However, it’s essential to market your course effectively to your target audience through social media, email marketing, and other channels.

8. Build A Digital Agency

Building a digital agency is a challenging but rewarding lifestyle business idea for those who have a passion for digital marketing and the skills to deliver exceptional results for clients. Running an agency is easily one of the most lucrative lifestyle business ideas on this list.

A digital agency offers services such as web design, social media marketing, SEO, and PPC advertising to businesses that need to improve their online presence. If you offer these services as a freelancer, running an agency is the next logical step.

The key to building a successful digital agency is to provide outstanding service to your clients, which will help you establish a reputation and attract more business through word of mouth. You’ll also need to continuously improve your skills and keep up with the latest trends and best practices in digital marketing.

9. Start A Newsletter

Starting a newsletter side hustle is a great lifestyle business idea for those who have expertise in a particular field and want to share their knowledge with a targeted audience. Newsletters allow you to connect with your subscribers regularly and provide them with valuable information and insights.

The key to building a successful newsletter is to provide value to your subscribers and engage with them regularly through email and other channels. You should also aim to grow your subscriber list by offering incentives, such as free resources or exclusive content, and leveraging social media and other marketing channels.

To monetize your newsletter, you can offer premium content or services to your subscribers, sell digital products, or use affiliate marketing or sponsored content. Keep in mind that building a successful newsletter takes time, dedication, and consistent effort, but it can be a highly rewarding and profitable business venture.