7 Profitable Online Businesses You Can Start Under $100 Today
Imagine transforming a small investment into a thriving venture that not only pays the bills but also fuels your passions and dreams. In today’s digital age, where opportunities are boundless and technology is at your fingertips, starting an online business has never been more accessible.
With just a humble sum of $100, you can dive headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship, creating a pathway to financial independence and personal fulfillment. But where do you begin, and how do you ensure your venture is profitable?
In this blog post, we’ll explore 7 profitable online businesses you can start with less than $100. These opportunities require minimal upfront costs yet have the potential to yield significant returns.
Whether it’s leveraging your existing skills, tapping into niche markets, or utilizing innovative platforms, each business idea is designed to maximize your potential revenue while keeping initial expenses low.
By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and inspiration needed to embark on your entrepreneurial journey with confidence and excitement.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping stands out as one of the 7 Profitable Online Businesses You Can Start with Less Than $100 because it eliminates the need for inventory investment, warehousing, and upfront product purchases.
In a dropshipping model, you partner with suppliers who handle product storage, packaging, and shipping. Your role is to market products through your online store—be it a Shopify site, WooCommerce storefront, or Etsy shop—and forward customer orders to suppliers.
This lean approach allows you to launch an e-commerce venture with minimal risk and expenses, focusing your budget on marketing and store optimization rather than stock.
To get started, choose a reliable supplier platform such as AliExpress, Oberlo, or SaleHoo. Research in-demand niches—be it fitness accessories, eco-friendly home goods, or pet supplies—and validate your ideas using Google Trends or marketplace insights.
Next, set up your store with a free or low-cost theme, create high-quality product listings, and implement basic SEO techniques to attract organic traffic. Allocate a portion of your $100 to test small-scale paid ads on Facebook or Instagram, monitor performance, and refine your targeting.
With consistent marketing, excellent customer service, and regular store updates, dropshipping can evolve from a side hustle into a full-fledged online business without breaking the bank.
Freelance Services
Freelancing transforms your expertise—writing, graphic design, web development, marketing—into a marketable service that clients worldwide will pay for. With only a laptop, a reliable internet connection, and a small budget for portfolio hosting or premium platform fees, you can start offering freelance services for under $100.
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, and Freelancer allow you to create a profile, bid on projects, and establish credibility through client reviews. Effective branding, clear service packages, and eye-catching portfolio samples are critical to standing out in a crowded marketplace.
First, identify your core skillset and niche down. For instance, instead of marketing yourself simply as a “writer,” consider specializing in blog posts for SaaS companies or social media captions for wellness brands.
This focus helps you command higher rates and attract targeted clients. Set up a personal website or landing page (using a budget-friendly host and a simple WordPress theme) to showcase your portfolio, testimonials, service offerings, and contact information.
Invest lightly in a premium membership on one or two freelance platforms to access better project bids and minimize competition. Communicate professionally, deliver high-quality work on time, and request client feedback to build your reputation and referrals without exceeding your $100 budget.
Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand (POD) enables entrepreneurs to sell custom-designed products—t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, tote bags—without holding any physical inventory.
You upload your designs to POD platforms like Printful, Teespring, or Redbubble, integrate them with your online store or marketplace, and when a sale occurs, the platform prints, packs, and ships the product directly to your customer.
This hands-off fulfillment model allows you to allocate your initial budget toward graphic design software subscriptions, premium mockup images, or paid advertising rather than manufacturing or storage fees.
What sets print-on-demand apart is its scalability and low risk. You only pay for production after a sale is made, which means you can experiment with multiple designs, niches, and product types without fear of unsold stock.
To start, invest in a basic year-long subscription to a design tool like Canva Pro (or use free alternatives if your budget is tight), craft compelling visuals, and research trending niches via Etsy’s best-seller lists or Instagram hashtag insights.
Launch your storefront on Shopify (using a low-cost basic plan) or integrate with marketplaces like Amazon Merch or Etsy. Promote your products organically through social media and influencer partnerships, and allocate a small portion of your $100 toward targeted ads on Facebook or Pinterest to test audience response.
As orders roll in, reinvest earnings into higher-impact marketing to scale the business.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing offers an attractive model for aspiring entrepreneurs because it requires virtually no upfront product investment. You partner with companies—Amazon Associates, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, or niche-specific affiliate programs—and promote their products through your blog, social media, email newsletters, or YouTube channel.
When someone clicks your unique affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. Your primary expenses involve setting up a content platform (blog hosting, domain name), basic SEO tools, and possibly a small budget for content promotion.
To begin, select a niche that aligns with your interests and has a viable audience—such as health and wellness, personal finance, or pet care. Purchase a domain and basic hosting plan for around $50 annually, install WordPress, and choose a free or low-cost theme.
Produce high-quality, helpful content: product reviews, how-to guides, comparison posts, or gift guides that seamlessly integrate affiliate links. Utilize keyword research tools (some offer free tiers) to optimize your posts for search engines and attract organic traffic over time.
Additionally, promote your content on relevant social media groups, forums, and email lists. By reinvesting a portion of your initial earnings into advanced SEO or paid ads, you can steadily grow traffic and affiliate commissions well beyond your initial $100 outlay.
Online Courses or Workshops
If you possess expertise in a high-demand area—coding, digital marketing, language learning, or personal development—you can package that knowledge into an online course or workshop.
Platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, and Udemy allow you to host video lessons, downloadable resources, and quizzes with minimal setup fees. Your primary investments are a good microphone, screen-recording software, and possibly paid promotion to reach your initial audience, all of which can be covered under $100.
Begin by validating your course idea: survey your network or test demand through a free webinar or email list. Outline your curriculum, break it into digestible modules, and record short, focused video lessons using free or affordable tools like OBS Studio and Loom.
Complement your videos with downloadable worksheets, templates, or checklists to enhance learning outcomes. Choose a platform—Udemy charges no upfront fee but takes a revenue share, while Teachable and Thinkific offer starter plans under $50 per month.
Allocate a portion of your budget to Facebook or LinkedIn ads targeting professionals interested in your niche. Once you secure early enrollments and positive reviews, leverage social proof to attract more students and consider upselling personalized coaching or advanced modules to maximize revenue.
Social Media Management
With millions of businesses vying for attention on social platforms, many seek skilled individuals to manage their social media presence. As a social media manager, you’ll create content calendars, design graphics, schedule posts, engage with followers, and analyze performance metrics.
Starting this service-based business requires minimal investment—primarily in graphic design tools (like Canva Pro), scheduling software subscriptions (Buffer, Hootsuite), and possibly a portfolio website, all manageable under $100.
Kick off by defining your service packages: number of posts per week, platforms covered (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok), community management, and reporting frequency. Build a simple but professional online portfolio showcasing sample posts, engagement stats, and client testimonials.
Leverage your personal network or freelance platforms to secure initial clients and offer discounted pilot packages in exchange for reviews. Use free trials of scheduling tools to streamline your workflow and invest in a Canva Pro subscription (around $12 per month) to create eye-catching visuals.
As you build a roster of satisfied clients, raise your rates and consider scaling by subcontracting additional designers or community managers. This model allows you to turn a small initial investment into a sustainable service business with recurring monthly income.
Virtual Assistant Services
Virtual assistants (VAs) provide remote administrative, technical, or creative support to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and executives. Tasks can range from email management, calendar scheduling, data entry, and customer support to basic bookkeeping and social media assistance.
The startup cost is minimal—just a reliable computer, internet connection, productivity software (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), and possibly a website or course to formalize your offerings, all achievable for under $100.
Identify your key strengths—organization, communication, tech-savviness—and package them into service tiers: basic email and calendar management, advanced project coordination, or specialized services like CRM management.
Create a professional online presence through a simple personal website or LinkedIn profile detailing your skills, rates, and client testimonials. Join VA marketplaces such as Belay, Time Etc, or Upwork, and apply for entry-level gigs to build your portfolio.
Invest a portion of your budget in a domain name and hosting to showcase case studies and client feedback. As you accumulate positive reviews, raise your hourly rates or offer retainer packages for predictable monthly income.
With dedication and excellent service, virtual assistance can become a steady, scalable online business that started with less than $100 in investment.
Turning Your $Investment into a Profitable Online Business
Embarking on any of these seven ventures demonstrates that a modest budget doesn’t limit entrepreneurship—it fuels creativity. From dropshipping to virtual assistance, each model allows you to leverage your skills and passion with under $100 in upfront costs.
By focusing on niche selection, customer value, and strategic marketing, you can build a profitable online enterprise that grows alongside your ambitions.
Choose the opportunity that aligns with your strengths, commit to consistent effort, and reinvest early profits into tools and promotion. With determination and the right approach, your initial investment becomes the cornerstone of a thriving, scalable online business.
