In one of my posts, I covered the best small business ideas in the local brick-and-mortar category. Based on the response from readers, this article covers the 305 best service business ideas that are evergreen, can be started with little or zero investment and covers ideas for everyone – men and women, skilled, semi-skilled and highly skilled, basic education holders and highly educated, and students.
There’s something for everyone in this list of best service business ideas that guarantee stable income because they remain in demand throughout the year and have a wide customer and client base. Some of these are unique and highly profitable. There is nothing better than being your own boss and make money online and offline through side hustles and by utilizing your skills and education. Or maybe simply because you are passionate about something and want to make money out of that.
Times have changed, and skills and education that needed you to be in a regular or part-time job can now be turned into a service-based business with you as the owner. You can easily turn your favorite service idea into a consultancy, specialist work or a side hustle to make good money and live a good life.
The list has almost 305 best service business ideas in these 17 categories (full details further in the article).
And these are top service business ideas from each category (more details to follow so keep reading).
Stock market advisor
Weight loss and body transformation expert (body shaping, weight loss, weight gain)
Academic tutoring – online and offline tutor
Interior designer (designing, overseeing fit-outs, sourcing furniture, lighting, and décor items, styling and overall home layout and arrangements)
Makeup artist (Special effects, bridal makeup, beauty and style, theater and stage makeup)
Baby name expert/baby naming expert
Elder companion and senior care provider
Lawyer
Puppy training and dog training
Restaurant delivery straight from farms
Real estate agent
RV repair and maintenance
Social media manager - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter
Recruitment - Headhunting, tech recruiter, mass recruiter, campus hiring specialist
IT systems and networking consultant – Cloud, on-premise server, architecture, networking, buying and selling IT infrastructure (trading IT physical assets)
Airbnb accommodation design expert
Corporate event planner – product launch, team dinners and luncheons, conferences and conventions, annual days
SaaS product development specialist
There are many reasons to start a service business. Desire to be your own boss, wanting to make a fortune instead of living off a paycheck, driven by the success of others, favoring economic conditions, being laid off by your company or any other thing. The reason could be any, but the idea remains the same. The idea is – to work on a plan and achieve success.
The biggest roadblock in starting a business is the lack of funds. But with these best small business ideas that are service-based, you can overcome that problem too. These best service business ideas can be put into action with little or no capital.
You need passion, hard work, innovation, business acumen and customer service skills to succeed in these. Depending on how well you implement your plan and how hard you work, these trending service business ideas offer steady income, which rises quickly with time to make it a highly profitable service business.
In-demand and trending professional services
The first category is the professional services that remain in demand throughout the year. Changing times and the immense popularity of the internet have given rise to new service professions that anybody can try and see success quickly. From making money online to offline professions, the list has everything you need to start a small service business.
Watching educational videos of people who have excelled in these areas, pursuing online courses and gaining experience under an expert will help you even more in meeting your service business targets. Most of these service business ideas in the professional category have gained traction in recent times.
Some of them did not exist a decade ago. Some of them existed but were considered as mee side hustles for some extra money. With time, these part-time gigs or side hustles have gone mainstream. These service business ideas now have the potential to easily turn into a small business and even larger if you use the right business strategy. Seeing their current popularity and the great future they guarantee, you can pick the one you like the most and start immediately.
Stock market advisor
Loan agent
Insurance agent
Medical tourism consultant
Career advisory
Personal reputation management
Celebrity manager
Sports coach
Startup advisor
NFT/Digital artwork instructor and advisor
Social media influencer
Stock photography model
Product reviewer on social media
YouTuber or vlogging – DIY, travel, food, sports
Motivational speaker
Bouncer
YouTube and TikTok success advisor
Private security
Movies (acting, modeling, stuntman, art director, choreographer, animator, VFX specialist, camera operator, etc.)
Astrologer
Palm reader
Face reader
Caricature drawing specialist
Animation videos (songs and shows) specialist for live streaming, TV and YouTube (be the next Baby Shark-like creator)
Real game playing for kids on TV and YouTube (analyze the success Vlad and Nikki has achieved)
Live streaming – gaming, music, education, motivational speech/inspirational talks and much more.
Personal health and wellness services
Health is of prime importance for everyone. People need personal care, attention and on-time services related to health and fitness. The reason could be any – inability to take out time to visit the gym, health issues that affect mobility, need for exclusivity, or bigger goals than usual. For that, people pay a premium. These people can be your customers for your new service business idea. Offering personal services will slowly make you popular in the market. You can employ people and run a full-scale service business with this model.
Health and wellness is something people do not look to compromise on and don’t hesitate to pay good fees. It is because of increased awareness and willingness of people to spend on their health and fitness that has given rise to a number of health and wellness businesses.
From losing weight to Zumba and Pilates, healthy meal delivery to yoga classes, everything is in trend and part of a big health industry, so starting a health and wellness business is a great idea. This could easily be one of the most profitable service business ideas.
Weight loss and body transformation expert (body shaping, weight loss, weight gain)
Personal fitness trainer– It includes celebrity trainers, group trainers, senior fitness trainers, CrossFit trainers, and sports performance expert
Mindfulness and meditation instructor
Health coaching
Yoga instructor (private yoga, yoga for health conditions, workshop expert, prenatal and postpartum yoga)
Spiritual guide
In-home masseuse/masseur
Acupuncturist
Chiropractor
Diet and nutrition consultant
Meal delivery service
Personal chef
Zumba instructor
Pilates instructor
Swimming coach
Academic consulting services
Education is a basic need, and with an increased focus on it, the industry is booming. Offline education was always one of the most profitable business ideas, with plenty of education consultants, admission counseling centers, private schools and colleges and much more.
The pandemic has taken the education business many steps further. Online courses, online education counseling services, and online tutoring have opened up a whole new education business world to those who want to make the best use of it.
So if you have a passion for helping students and make money while doing that, a service-based academic consulting or education business is the best idea you can capitalize on. From tutoring to helping people teach abroad and homeschooling to student accommodation experts, opportunities galore. This service business idea has plenty of scope as it offers a big return if done right.
Academic tutoring – online and offline tutor
Private school application consultant
Homeschool teacher
Wonderlic test preparation
Online English tutor
IELTS tutor
SAT tutoring and preparation
GED test preparation
TEFL coach (teaching English abroad)
College application consultant
College essay editor
Cover letter and resume writer
Education loan advisor
Study abroad consultant
Language coach
Local consultant for foreign students (travel, accommodation, acclimatization, safety and emergency help provider)
Scholarship advisor
Home maintenance and repair services
Home is where the heart is. And that is where the money is if you want to start a service business in home maintenance, home improvement and repair service domains. The kind of service you wish to take up in the home maintenance business is countless. There are main domains and then plenty of subdomains, as a lot of work requires specialists who know their job in and out. Some need a formal certification, but most of them are skill-based, which you can master with just a little effort.
You can gain experience in a few months for some of these jobs from someone who is already established in a home maintenance small business. From there, you get work experience and also learn the other intricacies of business, which will ultimately make your service business idea take shape.
Starting a small business in the service domain does not get easier than this. With some years in any of these home maintenance and repair fields, you can give wings to your business and start a big firm by employing experts in various domains. The housing market is experiencing a boom, and every small and big city in the US is seeing millions of residential units being constructed. This means plenty of opportunities to grow your service business and be one of the successful entrepreneurs in the future.
Interior designer (designing, overseeing fit-outs, sourcing furniture, lighting, and décor items, styling and arrangement)
Handyman service
Roofing expert
Wooden flooring expert
Pool designing, servicing and maintenance
Lawn care
Locksmith
Home entertainment installation
Home inspection services
Interior painting service
Wallpaper installation service
Power washing
Carpet installation
HVAC expert - Air conditioning installation and maintenance
Plumber - Plumbing service
Appliance repair (TV, fridge, home appliances, fans, microwave ovens, etc.)
Porcelain repair
Home maintenance equipment rental
Electrician - Electrical repair and maintenance (wiring, lighting, installation, etc.)
Mover and packer
Tree removal
Pest control
Carpenter, woodworking specialist, general carpentry
Fence installer (barbed wire, wooden, electrical, chain link, etc.)
Deck repair and contractor
Artificial turf installer
Weed removal
Gardening
Landscaping
Solar panel installer
Personal concierge services
Life is busy. We all know that because we face it every day. There is a job to take care of or a business to look into. There are personal reasons, too – taking care of kids, devoting time to pursue hobbies, education, side hustles or anything that needs a good amount of time. And this is where the service business opportunity lies. Being busy in life means a lack of friends, lack of assistance from neighbors or anybody else that someone would ideally think of relying upon.
Helping people get more time with your assistance means a serious personal service business these days. This is one of the unique service business ideas that need serious consideration. You can advertise yourself online to start a personal service business. Once things start rolling, you can expand your customer base through word of mouth, personal references, and marketing further through your website or social media. Making money while helping others get more time to do what they need is one of the best personal concierge service business ideas trending and offers good returns with only a little or zero investment.
Friend for rent
Grocery shopping and delivery
Errand-running
Dry-cleaning delivery and pick-up
Seamstress or tailor services
Window washing
Home cleaning service
Private car service
Cooking
Barbecue and grill specialist
Seafood recipe expert
Beauty and lifestyle service business ideas
This is one of the best service business ideas to make everything bright and beautiful for you. That’s because starting a business in beauty and lifestyle means being part of an industry that keeps growing, and the money involved keeps increasing.
The beauty industry is above $500 billion, and several factors contribute to its popularity and success. Even a small pie of it means big revenue if you manage to grow your business using the right strategies. To start a beauty and lifestyle service business, choose the domain that you think interests you most and will be able to change people’s lives. It could be anything – from making them look good to improving how they carry themselves.
Good results ensure returning customers and acquiring new ones through organic publicity. From helping people build meaningful relationships to ensuring their personal security in public and from giving them a perfect look for on-stage success to helping them dress the right way, the ideas are many, and some are unique service business ideas. Pick your idea and start a service business in the beauty and lifestyle category to experience a bright future.
Makeup artist (Special effects, bridal makeup, beauty and style, theater and stage makeup)
In-home hair stylist or hairdresser
Personal wardrobe stylist
Life coach
Relationship coaching
Online dating consultant/profile editor
Lifestyle manager
Personal fashion guide
Driving instructor
Etiquette coach
Personal bodyguard
Serving parents, babies, and small children
People lack time for themselves and their kids and parents. Nobody wants to be in such a situation, but life is demanding and leaves no choice. Whether a big city or a small one, people have to take care of many things – jobs, business, travel, meetings, social gatherings, etc. It is quite understandable that they cannot give the amount of time their kids ideally need. You can pitch in and make a difference in people’s lives. And do so with a smart service business idea.
Your clients will need you to serve their babies and small kids in many ways. They need a helping hand, and if you can offer high-quality professional service in this area, you can set up a small business with immense potential. Just like many other small business ideas, this one, too, does not need any investment.
You can start this business with zero investment. You just need to be compassionate, energetic, willing to help and work out of your comfort zone to help parents of small babies and kids. Other work areas within this business idea is helping kids who are a little grown up and need a professional to help them build skills, pursue hobbies and learn new things for development, which could range from dance and music to a new language learning. Help them grow, which in turn will ensure high growth of your service business.
Baby name expert/baby naming expert
Overnight doula service
Doula and birth coaching services
After-school care provider
Birth photographer, kids' birthday party photographer
Playgroup organizer
Lactation consultant
On-demand babysitter
Home baby proofing consultant
Nanny and au pair placement service
Private music teacher (singing, musical instruments)
Private dance teacher
Children’s party planner
Birthday party character appearances
Children’s entertainment services (magic shows, organizing picnics, tattoo artists)
Special education provider
Language classes
Elder care services
The older population is growing, and with it, the senior care business is also growing in demand. Not everyone is interested in senior home living, and this is why starting a senior care business will ensure a high growth rate and quick success.
To achieve success in this one of the best service business ideas, you need to be passionate, empathetic, energetic and willing to help the elderly. It could be anything – they might need a companion to spend time with or someone who can advise them in the best way regarding medical and dental treatment abroad or financial planning. There are multiple subdomains within the elder care business idea, so there is plenty to explore and pick the best suited to your business interests.
Elder companion and senior care provider
In-home physical therapist
Private nursing service
Insurance advisor – Medicare and Medicaid consultant
On-call emergency attendant for seniors
Medical tourism expert for seniors
Pension planning – finance, estate planning coordination, etc
High-end education-specific professional services
Education is transformative – we have heard this, we understand this, and a big chance is that we have experienced it. Every good job or service-based profession starts with great education. It can get you placed in your favorite company and get the best tech job in the Big 4 or place you in some Wall Street bank, fund or brokerage firm.
Possibilities are endless with education, and they get infinite when you use it to start a service business and be your own boss. This is really the easiest way to start a business and reach new heights. The business idea is straightforward – start practicing in an individual capacity in the field you are educated in.
Grow your service business by gaining new clients and slowly developing a brand. Once it starts working, hire people and make your small business grow into a large one. Within the profession you choose, there are a number of sub-areas you can choose from. A lawyer could work as a corporate lawyer or a personal injury lawyer. A doctor could be a general physician or a cardiac surgeon.
The list will be long if we cover every practice area. Your education will set you on course to be the owner of the next big business firm, and you will be able to grow much more than you would do in a job. Every profession listed here under this service business idea category sees high demand, and the money it gets is a lot.
Lawyer (corporate lawyer, personal injury lawyer, accident lawyer, employment lawyer, criminal lawyer, immigration lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer and other areas)
Doctor (psychiatrists, obstetricians and gynecologists, neurologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, pediatrician, cardiologist, etc)
Dentist (general dentist, endodontist or pediatric dentist, orthodontist. endodontist, oral Pathologist or oral surgeon, prosthodontist and other fields)
Psychologist (clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, cognitive neuropsychologists and others)
Cosmetic surgeon
Fashion designer
Architect (commercial architect, urban designer, interior architect and other)
Accountant (cost accounting, forensic accounting, auditing, finance accounting, etc)
Construction advisor
Pet care services
This is probably the cutest and loveliest business idea on the list of best service business ideas. Pets are an integral part of almost every household, and their owners treat them as family members.
Pets need love, care, grooming, training and everything that a human would need. They deserve everything that we deserve, and pet owners understand this thing more than anybody else. This is why they do not think twice about spending on their pets to keep them in the best shape. Their priority is to see them fit and want them to look good every day.
The pets accompany their owners to social gatherings, parties, airports, hotels, picnics and everywhere else that allows them to be there. Based on all of this and looking at pet industry trends, it is safe to say that any service business related to pets is sure to see success and make money for the business owners. This is why including this one on the best service business ideas list was a no-brainer.
Pandemic-related isolation saw people adopting more pets than ever, and this added 5 million more pets in the US. The pet care market is expected to touch the $118 billion mark by 2030. Does love for furry friends get bigger? Probably not. So to have a share in the pie, you need to think of the pet service business idea that you like, write a business plan, market your services and start making money right after that.
Puppy training and dog training
Pet sitting
Dog walking
Mobile veterinary services
Mobile pet grooming
Pet photography
Agriculture business ideas
This service business idea is for those who love to be in the open fields and farmhouses. Agriculture business ideas also suit those constantly looking for the most profitable business ideas for the future.
The agriculture service business idea is trending as more and more people want to break free from city life and spend a life that’s fully old-styled. There is nothing wrong with it, seeing that the agriculture business these days is a serious thing to get into as it has gained immense popularity in recent years. It is churning out more money than ever and gaining respect for the farmers.
The agriculture business is not limited to crop growing – it is way more than that – from aquaculture to animal nutrition and biochemistry to agronomy. Every field has a lot of potential as big companies and restaurants keep the demand high for raw food products. Fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, chicken, fish, seafood, sugarcane, palm oil – the list goes on and on. Agriculture needs everyone: farmworkers, machinery and equipment, suppliers and sourcing agents.
The growing middle class across the world and the growing culture of dining out and buying processed food in the US have fueled the demand for agriculture products and services. This means there’s great scope in the agriculture business, and starting a service around one of the areas of agriculture can really do the trick.
1. Restaurant delivery straight from farms
2. Agriculture equipment operator
3. Farm worker sourcing
4. Crop sourcing specialist
5. Agriculture trading specialist
6. Agronomist
7. Seafood sourcing
8. Animal Nutritionist
9. Contractual farming for big companies
10. Animal Physiologist
11. Aquaculturist
12. Biochemist
13. Animal caretakers
14. Organic food grower
15. Vineyard operations expert
Real estate services
The good old real estate business. Real estate services have charm, glamor, big money, brand, fancy life and everything that means X factor attached to it. When it is real estate, larger-than-life things come to mind. Such is the environment that real estate creates. Entering this big business is easy, and money pours in if it works out well.
Flipping houses, constructing houses, mortgage specialists, buying and selling shops, offices and homes and marketing the inventory are some of the main areas in this business idea that make a lot of money for the service providers. It is a big ticket business, so things do not roll out easily, but if you show perseverance and deal with the right customers in the right area, things will happen fast with this one of the most profitable and best service business ideas.
Starting a real estate business is easy as you do not have to build or flip homes by investing money. You can start as a real estate agent and then slowly progress to the next level until you think you are confident and have the capital to navigate the market on your own.
In real estate, everything from a beachside cottage to an oceanside villa sells. The demand for housing and retail and office space is unending. Newer things like coworking spaces, Airbnb properties, student homes, etc., are creating unprecedented demand for ready space and raw land. There is plenty to try and make money from and be the next best real estate broker in America.
Real estate agent
Real estate broker
Home inspection specialist or real estate inspector
Real estate attorney
Real estate developer
Rental manager
MLS management
Technical fit-outs
Interior designer
3D property walkthroughs expert
Property manager
Real estate consultant
Mortgage loan officer
Automobile maintenance and repair
Cars come with a big price tag. Whether it is a Tesla electric car or a Ford Bronco SUV, a vintage car or a new racing car, an RV or a truck, it is a big-ticket product. And like every machine, they break down, sometimes in the garage or on the road. The cars might need a mechanic for that or regular maintenance and servicing.
Although every company provides service in their workshops, non-company car mechanics play a big role in the market outside. Not every car owner goes to the workshop, especially after the service period or warranty period from the company expires. Other than that, there are plenty of problems that car companies are not able to fix, so the owners move to car mechanics in their local area to get that problem fixed.
The used car market is also large, with 2021 seeing a record number of old cars being sold. In 2021, the number of used car sales in the US was 40.6 million. And then there are car accessories, battery and tire services, roadside assistance, general inspection and much more. Overall, the scope of succeeding in the automobile repair and maintenance business is huge.
Starting a mobile car repair and maintenance service business is busy as you do not need to set up a car workshop. Simply focus on providing mobile services to the customers, and you will see this car service business idea doing wonders for you.
RV repair and maintenance
Mobile car wash and car detailing
On-call car mechanic
Vehicle inspection service
Windshield repair service
Roadside car breakdown assistance
Car battery service
Car modification services
Sales and marketing business ideas
Anything that a business creates needs to be marketed well to sell. Whether a product or a service, the right marketing makes all the difference to a business’s success. There are many methods to market and sell products and services with two main categories – online and offline. TV commercials, social media ads, print advertising, brochures and flyers, free samples and giveaways – the sales and marketing industry is vast.
Every company has to market what it deals in with the final idea to get sales. You must have seen the aggressive marketing every big and small company adopts – star-studded commercials on TV and during the movie break in theaters, exciting cartoons and animated commercials for kids on their favorite YouTube channels, in-movie ads, full-page ads in newspapers and print magazines, paid ads and clickbait on local ad networks on the internet and social media, the industry is huge, and this is why this is a great service business idea to look into.
Pepsi to Nestle, Apple to Samsung, BMW to Ferrari, Hilton to Hyatt, nonprofits to candidates in elections – everyone needs to market themselves and sell their ideas, products, services or even themselves. Seeing the scale of the industry, the manpower requirement is huge, and if you can do what companies want, you do not need to be in a job.
You can offer professional sales and marketing services through your business and rake in the moolah. Starting a sales and marketing business is easy (yes, neither is it difficult like Will Smith trying to sell his product in The Pursuit of Happiness or Jennifer Lawrence doing the Joy thing nor do you have to be selling magazine subscriptions like in American Honey). That is because now there are multiple channels through which you can push your plans to bring in the desired numbers for your clients.
Do you think you can market and sell like a wizard? Work on this one of the best service business ideas right away as it is highly profitable and set to see record-breaking growth in the future. This is also one of the best service business ideas for students, online work and home-based, as many options here support easy and flexible functioning.
Social media manager - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter
Graphic designer (logos, brochures, marketing collateral, flyers, etc.)
Website designer, phone app development
Marketing copywriter, landing pages, bridge pages
Content writer – blogger, web content, FAQ writer, whitepaper writer, HARO expert
Editing and proofreading service
Ebook ghostwriter (downloadable and for-sale ebooks for clients)
Facebook ads strategist
Instagram marketing strategist
TikTok video marketing specialist
Content marketing strategist
SEO strategist – Google and Bing search engines
Brand reputation management
Media and PR advisor
Email marketing manager
Affiliate sales and marketing consultant
Brand photographer
Marketing video producer – online video ads, TV commercials
Podcast creator
Business presentation and proposal designer
Public relations consultant
Online and offline brand ambassador
Telecaller (cold calling, call handling)
Amazon product seller services (product selection, research, management)
Etsy and Shopify store manager
Business administrative services
This is yet another big category to start a service business in. Business operations are vast – human resources (HR), accounts and finance, supply chain and logistics, sales and marketing, business liaison and coordination, corporate affairs, legal, digital marketing, corporate communication – media, PR, branding, administration, corporate social responsibility (CSR), information technology (IT), research and strategy, and many other functions that help a business run efficiently.
Every business function has a number of sub-functions so there’s plenty to choose from and finalize a service business idea. The thing that will make your business idea successful in serving the companies is outsourcing. Yes, businesses like outsourcing their non-core functions. A function might be a core area for one company but not for another.
A big banking firm might outsource its recruitment or complete HR function to an outside firm. Same time, an HR consultancy might outsource its entire accounting and finance function to some outsource agency or a knowledgeable professional so that it can focus entirely on its HR functions and business development.
This means a plethora of business opportunities for other companies, agencies, and individuals who can help run the non-core functions. Or even without outsourcing a function, a company might take the help of a professional agency or an individual who can handle the specific business operation on their behalf by backing up their in-house team.
Other than this, there are numerous macro and micro tasks that big companies outsource to other small and big companies. It could be anything from customer service to online marketing. To be successful with this small service business idea, zero in on what you like the most and what you think will align perfectly with your capabilities. Start promoting yourself and start growing your service business within that niche.
Recruitment - Headhunting, tech recruiter, mass recruiter, campus hiring specialist
Virtual assistant (attending calls, invoice tracking, general file and document maintenance, scheduling meetings, travel arrangement)
Translation expert in any language
Project manager
Six sigma coaching and implementation expert
Bookkeeping specialist – online and offline
Certified professional accountant
Real estate advisory for businesses - commercial leasing, company guest accommodation, coworking space leasing expert
HR domain - payroll processing service, employee data entry, record keeping
Workplace diversity and inclusivity specialist
Employee background check service
Financial auditor (internal, external)
Business plan consultant, business plan writer
General office administration, office support services
Data mining, data research, data crunching and analysis specialist
Online course consultant (for working professionals)
Freelance researcher (mainly data collection)
Online business coach (business ideas, business success guide)
Customer service – calls, live chats, emails
Corporate insurance broker
Tax consultant
Business intelligence specialist
Legal process server
Mobile notary public
Paralegal services
Private investigator
Contract drafting and review service
Technology (IT infra) including software - maintenance and repair services
Every organization in every sector relies heavily on technology, from healthcare to education, manufacturing to construction. To run daily business operations, every office has desktop computers, laptops, printers, in-house servers and many other gadgets and devices. In addition to this, there is a regular need for networking and handling system breakdowns or new installations.
IT infrastructure is a big investment, a basic need for every business and something that can halt part or entire company processes if not handled by experts. This is where the new service business opportunity is if you like ideas around IT infra maintenance and repair. The best thing about this one of the best small business ideas is that it does not need high-level coding or programming language.
Since there is plenty to choose from to base your service business idea on, you can choose the one that suits your knowledge and skill levels the most. Some certification or on-site learning will help you grow even further with your IT infra service business idea. Within some years of starting, you might see your business growing and develop into a big IT business. This is one of the best service business ideas for students as they can learn IT skills from the grassroots level and grow in the industry with degrees and niche-specific IT certifications.
IT systems consultant – Cloud, on-premise server, architecture, networking, buying and selling IT infrastructure
Computer repair and maintenance service
Printer and copy machine service and maintenance
SaaS expert – software planning, installation, upgradation
Mobile IT support service
Website and app developer, website maintenance
Online network installation and maintenance
Travel and tourism service business ideas
Instagram posts and travel blogs have given a new dimension to the travel world. It has helped make tourism more popular than ever. There are other factors too which have helped the tourism sector explode – improved economic conditions in many countries, fast-growing middle-class families, global businesses and an undying natural desire in everyone to explore the world.
Talk about any travel destination in the world – from well-known to little-known, is seeing an unprecedented number of tourists flocking there to experience the place, take photos and videos and break free from the routine. The exotic islands of Greece, mystic places in South East Asia, pristine beaches in South America and every other famous place to travel are seeing an increased number of tourists.
To take it to the next level, accommodation concepts like Airbnb and cheap flights by every big and small airline have simplified travel. This means heavy tourist footfall in offbeat and lesser-known areas. Due to this, countries that were not so much known for tourism have experienced a boost in tourism – Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Uruguay, Croatia, Iceland, Panama, Belize, Montenegro, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Costa Rica – and the places are too many to be mentioned here.
The tremendous growth in the tourism sector has given rise to many small businesses. Since it is a service industry, many service business ideas come with it. Choose the one you think will be the most profitable and will keep you interested every day.
Airbnb accommodation design expert
Rental property management
Local cuisine expert, cooking classes for tourists
Local tour guide
Translator
Adventure tours
Travel agent – ticketing, local sightseeing, adventure and water sports, shuttle management, etc.
Corporate retreat service
Cruise booking agent
Travel concierge services (ticketing/flight booking, hotel accommodation, etc.)
Ski or snowboarding instructor
SCUBA diving instructor
Surfing instructor
Beach equipment rentals
Car and bike rental
Travel guide for sustainable tourism
Event management business ideas
The party must go on. Whether it is an occasion in the family or some event in the company, a professional service is needed to organize the event perfectly. Depending on the size of the event, the number of professionals involved in making it a success varies. Events do not happen daily, so the individual or the company behind the event leaves nothing to chance.
Everything in organizing an event has to be perfect, and the attendees should leave amazed. For this, the service business around event management has seen a lot of success in the past, and it has a bright future. This is mainly due to the willingness of individuals to spend on events to make them grand and memorable.
The growth has been boosted highly by the corporate sector where company events are a regular affair – company town halls, employee engagement activities, annual day functions, sales and marketing-specific events and exhibitions, product launch parties, get-togethers for engaging remote employees, press conferences and so much more.
On the other hand, wedding functions have become bigger and full of grandeur. Even birthdays, anniversaries, get-togethers, alumni meets, and other family functions are now big-ticket events offering big opportunities for service businesses.
Starting a small business in event management means a lot of success in a quick time and high growth in the future. Since there are plenty of sub-categories to choose from, you need to think deeply about the one you want to venture into.
There are many sub-category service businesses in the event management field that need zero investment, but for some, you might need a small capital to buy equipment or set up a small infra. But the investment is still too low, so you do not need to worry much about it. Just choose the niche you like and are confident about and start a business the moment you are ready for it.
Corporate event planner – product launch, team dinners and luncheons, conferences and conventions, annual days
Galas, fundraising event coordinator
Trade shows and exhibitions coordinator
Wedding planner – pre-wedding parties, wedding functions, receptions, bachelor parties
Conference and event marketing manager
Event photographer or videographer
Audio visual technician
Lighting designer
Destination wedding consultant
Stage presenter or commentator
Live streaming expert, video producer
Bartending services
DJ
Reunion coordinator
Valet parking service
Transportation manager
Crowd manager
Security expert
Event furniture and equipment rental
Catering services
Custom baking
IT service business
We discussed IT infra service business ideas. The other IT business area that offers tremendous growth potential for service-oriented individuals is the software and digital service side. If you are skilled in any of these IT fields, you can start a business with zero capital and start growing it faster than anything else. The tech sector is hot – do not be misled by the on-and-off layoff news in the tech companies you come across. It’s a technology-driven world, and the entire future will revolve around it.
It has come a long way from basic Windows computers, telephone lines, copy machines and fax machines in offices. The tech world is now about sophisticated technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and robotics, data analysis, cloud computing, cybersecurity and many other popular technologies that are changing the business landscape and individuals' lives forever.
You must have heard about the talent shortage in the tech sector and how tech is continually grappling with the issues it faces due to that. They outsource their processes they do not want to because they lack the manpower or because it is cheaper to get done off-site - basically, in places where there is a lot of knowledge worker availability and pay is less. They also rely heavily on service professionals, consultants and small agencies that can help them navigate projects they receive from clients so that they can deliver on time, ensure top quality and within the timeframe.
You can easily analyze the scope of the IT service industry based on this. You can see the growth potential of service business ideas in the IT service sector. You can master any of these skills with a degree in IT and specialize in the field that you like, or you can even make an entry by starting a small business with the help of basic certification and getting experience through a company job for a few years. It all depends on the level of skills and experience.
If it is on your portfolio or service proposal, you will surely bag a project to start your business. From there, you can make inroads into the IT service business sector. Who knows, maybe the next big startup with millions in funding might be yours. Dreaming big and achieving big with your service business idea in the tech sector is a great possibility.
SaaS product development specialist
IT systems consultant
Software engineer (development and testing)
AI and ML expert
Data analyst
Cloud architect
UI/UX developer
DevOps engineer
Digitization and automation specialist
Frequently asked questions about best service business ideas and service -based small business
What is a service business? Explain it in Layman's terms
A service business is one that assists its customers, who could be families, individuals or other businesses, with a wide range of professional services. A service business does not offer or sell a physical product to its customers. It provides them with necessary help, consultancy, and assistance in the form of professional service, which is priced – it could be a one-time fee, subscription, or a recurring payment based on the invoice.
How do you start a service business? How to identify the best service business idea out of these 305?
To start a service business, you need to identify the idea with which you can serve your customer base. It could be based on the professional skills you have acquired through education, work experience, or both. Or it could simply be something you are self-taught in and have a great passion for in that business area.
What is the capital needed to start a service business?
The capital needed to start a service business depends on the scale you want to operate at or your chosen idea. Some business ideas need you to purchase basic equipment and tools needed to carry out the service. But a big percentage of service businesses need zero capital. So some of these ideas are best service business ideas for students and work-from-home or online individuals.
What is an example of a service business?
We have listed here 300+ service business examples. Some are unique service business ideas. There’s something for everyone -For individuals who want to work online or from home, remote work, students, zero investment business idea seekers, educated professionals (which you can break into with the right education), for skilled and also non-skilled.
Which is the best service business idea?
Many of these service business ideas are in high demand, and based on some key factors – the market size, future growth projections, your skill/education/interest, and the investment needed, you can pick the one you think will be the best for you.
What service businesses are in high demand?
As mentioned above, most service businesses remain in high demand throughout the year. However, if you want to go purely by market reports and data, you must do more research before starting a service business. These are profitable business ideas and the amount of success you achieve depends largely on the effort you put in, how hard you work and how consistent you are and the time you allocate to it.
