10 Unique Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs

There are more than 730,000 business owners in the U.S. alone—but, that doesn’t mean that every possible million-dollar idea has already been scooped up. And, business owners are regular people, too: 49% of business owners are women, 10% are LGBT, and the average U.S. business owner is around 44 years old.

While most entrepreneurs are just like you and your neighbors, their unique business ideas allow them to support their local economies, find their niches, and make money doing what they love.

If you want to start your own brand, but you’re still looking for inspiration, this guide to new business ideas can help you take your local market by storm.

#1 Bring arts and crafts to your community

If you love to scrapbook, build furniture, knit, collage, or sculpt, why not monetize your hobby by offering arts and crafts-related opportunities to your neighbors?

Here are some ideas for future business owners with a crafty side:

Start a craft store – Your local craft market might be dominated by big chains selling products made outside of your community. Why not start a locally-owned and -sourced craft store to supply your neighborhood hobbyists?
Offer an after-school art camp for kids – While you might have picked up crafting from a family member, a paid course, or an online resource, not everyone has the opportunity to learn a creative skill. By running an after-school camp, you can introduce the young minds in your community to the wide world of crafting—and provide working parents with a child care opportunity. For example, Studio Arts Boulder in Colorado hosts summer camps for children of all ages to get their hands dirty and craft clay sculptures, mugs, and monsters.
Build a makerspace – Rent or buy a warehouse (or commandeer your garage) and fill it with tables, paint, tools, and anything else local crafters could possibly need to bring their creations to life. Offer memberships or drop-in passes for the community to use your tools and space.

#2 Hone your cooking skills

There are countless ways to turn your love of cooking into a career. But, if you’re not interested in starting a full-service, brick-and-mortar restaurant, consider one of the following unique business ideas for foodies:

A meal or meal kit delivery service
Affordable rent-a-chef services
In-home or virtual cooking lessons
Job training and education for restaurant industry workers
An off-the-wall food truck or portable stand

The startup costs for any of these business ideas are fairly affordable. Another benefit of this small business idea is that if you are still working full-time, this side hustle can help you earn extra money. To make it succeed, you have to make sure it stands out from other cooking businesses.

What would make these ideas particularly unique and attractive to customers in your area? Consider:

Sourcing your ingredients from local or nearby farms
Making these options as affordable as possible—good food is too often a luxury
Incorporating worldwide cuisines, calling on experts nearby and abroad

#3 Share your community knowledge

If you’re a long-time resident of your community, think about what makes your town unique—and share those things with visitors and other residents.

Consider using your wealth of local knowledge to offer:

Walking tours of your city, showcasing:
- Historic buildings or homes
- Unique architecture or public art
- Overlooked or hidden places
Themed experiences like costumed pub crawls
Experiences specifically tailored to long-time locals
Highlight another local business

To expound upon the last item, let’s explore a hypothetical. Perhaps you have connections and experience in your local bakery industry. But, even if you know the best place to grab a dozen cupcakes, perhaps other residents don’t—you could use your connections to set up a walking tasting tour of your town’s most delicious bakeries.

#4 Educate in your specialty

Not all educational experiences happen in a classroom setting, and there’s so much more to learn than reading, writing, and arithmetic. If you have a special interest or niche skill, why not introduce it to your neighbors?

Offer an in-person or online course to teach people a new skill
Team up with other educators or people in your interest group to offer course bundles
Create a paid resource for people just getting started in your hobby
Post related articles about your specialty

Check out Garten’s Music in Wichita, Kansas—they offer one-on-one music lessons for beginners and advanced musicians of all ages, low-stress group classes, and both in-person and virtual instruction.

#5 Earn a living as an animal lover

If you can’t resist petting every dog you see, or cuddling with your cat is your ideal way to spend an evening, consider putting your pet-friendliness to use when starting a business. There are so many opportunities for animal lovers to make a living doing what they love, like:

Becoming an in-home pet sitter
Starting a dog-walking service
Running a doggy daycare or other all-day pet-sitting service for working pet parents
Starting a local veterinary clinic
Offering grooming services to your neighbors
Making homemade pet food or treats from locally-sourced ingredients
Creating custom collars and other wearables for stylish pets
Teaching obedience or pet training classes
Open cat cafes

#6 Start a community newsletter

If you have a penchant for the pen, starting a community newsletter or small publication is an excellent way to contribute to your local creative scene, engage with your neighbors, and make money.

There are a variety of ways to run a high-quality periodical. Depending on your specific idea, your process might include:

Creating a template
Building a recipient list
Writing content marketing materials
Recruiting contributing writers
Selling ad space

Pro-tip: If you want to get readers in the door and make money aside from selling ad space, consider offering both a free and paid version of your newsletter. While the free version should be high-quality, the paid subscription should offer extra value to paying readers.

#7 Design, create, and sell custom merchandise

Whether you’re a natural-born artist, an innovative graphic designer, or a master of witty one-liners, consider selling merchandise featuring your one-of-a-kind designs or slogans.

Devices like a Cricut or Silhouette—mini-CNC machines that cut custom designs—make it easier than ever to emblazon your original artwork on:

Wooden signs
Wearables, like:
- T-shirts
- Sweatbands
- Socks
- Scarves
- Bandanas
- Hats
Functional items, including:
- Cups and mugs
- Coasters
- Drink koozies
- Tea towels
Traditional art media, like stretched canvas

Unique merchandise from creatives is taking the apparel industry by storm—one of many small businesses harnessing the power of at-home tools is Nice People Tees, an online shop based in Greenville, South Carolina. They offer thousands of t-shirts in a variety of themes, like bridal, plants, holidays, and sports. Producing custom merchandise is one way of establishing a niche market.

#8 Create a community podcast

In a similar vein as a community newsletter, consider starting a podcast to discuss news, events, politics, and other topics impacting your neighborhood. The process is similar to starting a newsletter:

Buy or rent basic podcasting equipment and sound editing software
Recruit co-hosts or guest speakers
Promote your podcast using a community-based platform like Nextdoor
Sell advertising space
Develop a recording and posting schedule and regularly upload episodes

Starting a podcast deserves an entire article, but there are some important things to remember as you begin:

Episodes don’t have to be long. A 20- or 30-minute format is perfect for commuters and gym-goers who have limited listening time.
Anyone in your community is a potential guest or co-host. Invite local authors, government officials, public safety officers, or long-time residents to weigh in on community topics.
You can monetize your podcast by selling ad space to local businesses or offering bonus content for a premium price.

#9 Break into real estate

Especially if you’re a long-time resident of your community, becoming a real estate agent is an excellent way to make connections in your community, contribute to the local housing economy, and make a profit.

Real estate is a lucrative career path for people who are:

Extroverted
Tenacious
Excellent negotiators
Instinct-driven
Disciplined
Connected to and invested in their communities

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out Maranda Taylor of Kelly Realty in Omaha, Nebraska. Her realty business isn’t just about selling houses—it’s about empowering people in her community to find their ideal home base in Omaha.

#10 Help neighbors relieve stress

What if you had an opportunity to let out some stress in a healthy way?

One of the most unique business ideas finding a foothold in the market is stress relief studios—places where people can swing hammers at breakable junk, scream into a quiet space, or punch walls to their heart’s content (while wearing any necessary protective gear, of course).

A stress relief studio is a low-risk, simple business idea that you could start out of a rented warehouse space, backyard shed, or garage.

Things to consider when starting a business

If this list inspired you, what’s next? Keep the following in mind as you start the rewarding (but time-consuming) process of business ownership:

Budget wisely – You have to make a plan to make a profit. Lock down your finances and make a business plan that will help keep your spending and savings in check.
Scope out your competition – Who else is taking up space in your niche? Do your homework on the competition’s marketing efforts, promotions, and products.
Connect with your community – As you bring your idea to life, shout your new business from the rooftops to draw in new clientele in your community.

The latter two options are excellent opportunities to use your free Nextdoor Business Page.

Find your niche with Nextdoor

Entrepreneurial business ideas are the backbone of local economies—if you have an innovative idea, or if one of the suggestions above inspired you, why not turn your hobby or special interest into a profitable business?

When you’re ready to bring in customers, advertise your brand, scope out the competition, and promote sales and new offers, Nextdoor is the best tool for the job. If you’re looking for help navigating business uncertainty, our all-in-one platform makes it easier than ever to expand your brand's awareness, promote your products, and chat one-on-one with potential clientele.

In a world where 88% of Nextdoor neighbors buy from a local business once a week, getting your name out there is crucial—claim your free Nextdoor Business Page and become a force to be reckoned with in your local marketplace.