Whether you personally love coffee or are curious about capitalizing on the booming coffee and specialty drink market, you’re not wrong for thinking starting a coffee business could be the answer to all life’s problems.

Before opening super-successful Woods Coffee, Wes Herman was traveling all over the U.S. for work, not seeing his family as much as he'd like, and wanting to empower his kids to live better. You'll never believe how he did it.

[su_quote]We started the company as a homeschool project to teach our four kids how to start a business. We hoped they would love it so much that we could work together for a long time as we grew this new brand.[/su_quote]

The family started serving coffee in 2002 when their homeschool project got a $23,000 loan. Since then, Woods Coffee has steadily grown to 19 shops over the Northwest.

Here, Wes shares coffee business secrets like avoiding tying your funds up in real estate and buying used whenever possible. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to start the coffee shop of your dreams with any budget.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

We’ll cover the following (click any link to jump to the part that interests you most):

• What is a coffee shop?
• How to open a coffee shop business
  
  • Step 1. Research the coffee shop industry
  • Step 2. Create a coffee shop business plan
  • Step 3. Create a business structure
  • Step 4. Get your business license
  • Step 5. Fund your coffee shop startup costs
  • Step 6. Choose the right coffee supplier
  • Step 7. Plan the coffee shop layout and decor
  • Step 8. Buy coffee equipment and furnishings
  • Step 9. Hire employees
  • Step 10. Create a menu
  • Step 11. Start coffee shop marketing
  • Step 12. Comply with all regulations
  • Step 13. Soft launch your coffee shop
  • Step 14. Host a grand opening
  • Step 15. Manage your coffee shop business
  • Step 16. Provide excellent customer service
  • Step 17. Grow your coffee shop business
• Opening a coffee shop FAQ
  
  • What is donut shop coffee?
  • What is a coffee shop bar?
  • What is a café?
• Go start a successful coffee shop [/su_note]

If you want to know how to start a coffee shop, keep reading to find out how Wes started his multi-million-dollar coffee empire without spending his own money.

What is a coffee shop?

A coffee shop is a small restaurant, cart, kiosk, or drive-thru that primarily sells coffee, tea, and other refreshments.

Popular styles of coffee include:

• Espresso
• Latte
• Cappuccino
• Cold brew

A coffee shop might also carry small snacks like cookie cakes. A coffee shop owner might also consider opening a café, which tends to have more tables and a full menu of food in addition to coffee.

Keep reading to learn about the coffee industry.

How to open a coffee shop business

Opening a coffee shop can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also requires careful planning and execution. You’ll need to perform the following steps to start a coffee shop:

1. Research the coffee shop industry
2. Create a coffee shop business plan
3. Create a business structure
4. Get your business licenses
5. Fund your coffee shop startup costs
6. Choose the right coffee supplier
7. Plan the coffee shop layout and decor
8. Buy coffee equipment and furnishings
9. Hire employees
10. Create a menu
11. Start coffee shop marketing
12. Comply with all regulations
13. Soft launch your coffee shop
14. Host a grand opening
15. Manage your coffee shop business
16. Provide excellent customer service
17. Improve your coffee shop performance

Get ready to learn how to open a coffee shop.

Step 1. Research the coffee shop industry

The first step to starting a coffee shop brand is to research coffee businesses to understand how to place yourself within the industry. You’ll have two considerations during the market research phase:

1. You’ll want to understand coffee industry earning potential and trends on both a national and local level.
2. Choose a strategic location with high foot traffic, accessibility, visibility, and proximity to other businesses.

Identify how to make your new coffee shop unique

Opening a coffee shop can be a lucrative business, but a new coffee shop needs to understand the startup costs, earning potential, fixed and variable costs, and marketing strategies of a successful business.

Companies like Starbucks, Dunkin, and Tim Hortons make hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars each year.

That’s awesome for them, but an independent coffee shop will take years to reach that point. Here, we help you explore your business opportunities for becoming a successful coffee shop starting from scratch.

Cautionary tale about coffee shops

We use IBIS World for all of our industry reports. They provide multiple reports about coffee shops, and there is some contradictory information.

We used the following coffee shop reports in the Industry Section:

• INDUSTRY REPORT OD6098: This report covers the retail market for coffee in the U.S. It was last updated in April 2021.
• (NAICS) REPORT 72221B: This report covers coffee and snack shops in the U.S. It was last updated in January 2023.
• INDUSTRY REPORT OD5552: This report covers coffee store franchises in the U.S. It was updated in January 2023.

We combined data from multiple reports because Starbucks gets nearly 40% of U.S. coffee and snack shop revenue. In addition, the NAICS report indicated that the industry operates at a loss when you exclude Starbucks.

The chart below is the coffee shop data from OD6098 and NAICS Code 72221B. This gives you a more adequate view of coffee shops by the numbers than including just one report's information.

Statistic	Coffee Retail Markets	Coffee & Snack Shops	Combined	Starbucks	Coffee Retail Markets Plus Coffee & Snack Shops Minus Starbucks.	Coffee & Snack Shops Minus Starbucks
Revenue	$46,200,000,000.00	$54,500,000,000.00	$100,700,000,000.00	$18,500,200,000.00	$82,199,800,000.00	$35,999,800,000.00
Profits	$3,400,000,000.00	$1,900,000,000.00	$5,300,000,000.00	$2,439,200,000.00	$2,860,800,000.00	-$539,200,000.00
Profit Margins	7.36%	3.49%	5.26%	13.18%	3.48%	-1.50%
Number of Locations	455,929	89,867	545,796	15,991	529,805	73,876
Number of Businesses	342,120	72,136	414,256	1	414,255	72,135
Location Rev	$101,331.57	$606,451.76	$184,501.17	$1,156,913.26	$155,151.05	$487,300.34
Business Rev	$135,040.34	$755,517.36	$243,086.40	$18,500,200,000.00	$198,428.02	$499,061.48
Loctions per Business	1.33	1.25	1.32	15991	1.28	1.02
Rev per Employee	$24,200.00	$59,100.00	$35,522.27	$46,020.40	$33,787.58	$69,197.65
Number of Employees	1,912,595	922,246	2,834,841	402,000	2,432,841	520,246
Average Number of Employees per Location	4.19	10.26	5.19	25.14	4.59	7.042151714
Profit per Employee	$1,780.95	$2,060.37	$1,869.59	$6,067.66	$1,175.91	-$1,036.43
Profit per Location	$7,457.30	$21,142.35	$9,710.59	$152,535.80	$5,399.72	-$7,298.72
Profit per Business	$9,938.03	$26,339.14	$12,794.02	$2,439,200,000.00	$6,905.89	-$7,474.87

How much does a coffee shop make?

The average coffee shop location makes between $150K and $600K per year with 4-10 people working at the shop, but the exact amount will depend on the coffee shop concept, foot traffic, and number of employees.

If you’re opening a coffee shop or coffee cart as a solo entrepreneur, know that you might make as little as $24K a year, though.

Pro Tip: Plan ahead from the start. Scaling and acquiring an existing coffee shop is how most of the industry improves revenues and profit margins.

How much does a coffee shop make a month?

Depending on the coffee shop location and other factors, you can expect to make somewhere between $40K and $50K per month, but the average Starbucks location approaches $100K monthly.

These numbers will fluctuate seasonally and based on the number of days in each month.

Independent coffee shops will obviously make less in monthly sales than a Starbucks until they develop a reputation and get repeat customers.

How much does an average coffee shop make a day?

An average coffee shop makes between $410 and $1,650 per day, while the average Starbucks makes nearly $3,200 per day.

Coffee shops tend to have the most business when people go to work, during lunch breaks, and after work. Of course, a great coffee business in a place like an airport or casino might have different high-traffic times.

Get ready to find out if a coffee shop is profitable.

How profitable is a coffee shop?

It’s getting harder to measure profits because business owners have established that the ideal profit amount is zero to minimize their tax consequences. That said, a coffee shop can make up to 50% gross profit and 17% net profit.

Wes shared the following about the profit potential of a coffee shop:

[su_quote]You can operate a small business very efficiently in coffee, and if you get a lot of customers, then you can make some serious dough.[/su_quote]

In Wes's case, that's definitely true considering he owns a multi-million-dollar coffee shop empire!

How much do coffee shop owners make?

Estimating how much coffee shop owners make requires analyzing various financial reports since a business owner may make money in the following ways:

1. Salary: $59,440 as General Manager or Comparable Position
2. Tips: 8-20% of revenue
3. Dividends: Up to $21,142 paid out above salary
4. Benefits: $17,565
5. Total: $59,440 to $120,000

You might make much more if you open a coffee shop like Woods Coffee. They have 19 stores and make millions per year. In that scenario, your salary would be comparable to a CEO or Operations Manager, tips would be removed, and dividends would be much higher. Check out our interview with Wes below to learn more:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOdRRuI4g5E"]

Find a great location with reasonable rent

Just because a spot is centrally located doesn't mean it’s the right coffee shop location.

High-traffic locations usually have sky-high rents and cutthroat competition. Meanwhile, a coffee shop starting as a coffee kiosk in a mall will have much lower costs and cover its operating costs quicker.

Pro Tip: Try to see potential in a location that nobody else appreciates. Wes has this to say about his Boulevard Park location, the crown jewel in his entire chain:

[su_quote]As an entrepreneur, you must trust what you see. It will always be different than what others see. There were quite a few businesses that passed on Blvd. Park because they couldn't see it working. We saw it from day one, never wavered, and built one of the finest coffee shops in the world.[/su_quote]

When you do your location analysis, consider the following factors:

• Demographics
• Regulations and zoning
• How close you are to your target market
• How far away suppliers are
• Competition
• Crime rates

Pro Tip: Learn more about picking locations.

Step 2. Create a coffee shop business plan

Virtually every entrepreneur will tell you to write a business plan when opening a coffee shop.

Wes is no different. However, his coffee shop business plan was only one page long:

[su_quote]I always like to think that a business plan can be put on one sheet of paper. It's the difference between just driving aimlessly without a map versus having a map and understanding where you're going. You'll get there faster, you'll get there more directly, and you won't be distracted trying to figure out where you're supposed to be going.[/su_quote]

The beauty of the one-page coffee shop business plan is that it pares down your idea to its barest essentials. This helps you to focus on your vision with laser-sharp intensity. It makes opening a coffee shop so much easier.

You’ll want to include the following:

• Your Elevator Pitch: Why you are opening a coffee shop and why investors should care
• SWOT Analysis: An analysis of your coffee shop’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• Business Model: How your coffee shop will make money while increasing revenue and profit—the more disruptive to the industry, the higher the likelihood that your coffee shop succeeds
• Unique Value Proposition: What makes you different from other coffee shops?
• Target Demographic: Proof that you’ve performed market research
• Budget: Financial analysis to help you manage coffee shop startup costs and ongoing expenses
• Pricing Strategy: How will you approach pricing your coffee shop menu?
• Marketing: A list of strategies you’ll use to market and become a successful coffee shop
• Funding Plans: Statement of how much funding you’ll need, how you’ll get it, and how you’ll use it

Pro Tip: You can create supplemental materials such as income and cash flow statements for potential investors but save them separately.

Step 3. Create a business structure

A business structure is just how your business is treated from a legal standpoint. It can be considered a separate entity, like a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Alternatively, sole proprietors and partners' personal and business interests remain legally connected.

Most business owners opt for an LLC through their Secretary of State website because it’s less costly than a corporation and limits their losses to the startup costs should the business fail. Your coffee business will also need an employee identification number (EIN) to file taxes.

Pro Tip: Learn more about the different types of businesses.

Step 4. Get your business license

Complete all necessary paperwork to register your business with the appropriate local and state authorities. This will normally include:

1. A tax permit
2. Local business license
3. Fire inspection
4. Health inspection
5. Food serving license
6. Liquor or beer license (if you plan to serve alcohol)

Check with your city and state to establish exactly what you need.

Step 5. Fund your coffee shop startup costs

How to start a coffee shop with no money

Wes started Woods Coffee using none of his own money. Here's how he made it happen:

[su_quote]In those early days…we were on a very, very, tight budget. We didn't have the money, and so we needed to find the money, and we needed to be creative on how we launched the first store. So, the initial budget was $23,000—that's what we needed to pull this business off. We didn't have the dough, so we went out and asked someone to partner with us that had the money. They weren't coffee drinkers, but they decided that this would be a good investment, and it was.[/su_quote]

That's an excellent way to start a coffee shop with no money down! Of course, if you have savings or other sources of funding to work with, even better.

Cost of opening a coffee shop

Wes thinks it would cost $500,000 to start a coffee shop today.

In our interview with Joe's Fine Coffee, Joe mentions that he was able to start his coffee shop for just $100,000. You can find that interview here:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx7tEfEXLo0"]

Our research shows that it costs about $275,000 to open a coffee shop. However, this will vary based on your location, business needs, and several other factors.

To determine your budget, you need to figure out what it'll cost to get your venture off the ground and calculate your ongoing costs. This will consist of the following three types of expenses:

• Capital
• Fixed
• Variable

Capital costs are things you only buy once (unless there is something from your equipment list that breaks down). These are things like:

• Espresso machines
• Cash registers
• Ice makers
• Building (if you buy instead of rent)

Fixed costs are expenditures that stay the same from month to month. An example of this is rent.

Variable costs are expenses that fluctuate depending on how much business you do. These are things like labor costs because the more customers you have, the more employees you'll need to hire.

Don’t forget ongoing costs

High startup costs mean that you're going to need plenty of startup capital to get your business off the ground. Here's what Wes has to say about that:

[su_quote]Most entrepreneurs forget about working capital and the need for a reserve to get you through the beginning stages of when you start your business… In most people's cases, they have to reserve enough money to get them through the first year to pay themselves.[/su_quote]

Set aside enough money to cover your expenses for six months (if not longer). An excellent strategy to minimize how much money you'll need is only securing enough cash to take you to the next stage of your business.

This is known as “the lean startup” and will dramatically increase your chances of success.

Run your coffee shop as a side hustle

You can save money by holding down another job so you don't have to siphon funds from your fledgling business (that's what Wes did):

[su_quote]I worked for a good five years in another job so I wasn't a drag on the company and I was able to keep the money flowing into the company and able to make the company successful before I started drawing salary. So, we actually got to store number six before I ever started earning money out of the company. And I worked another job during the day, and then at night I'd make all the deals, and put these things together, and before you know it, we have six stores.[/su_quote]

How are you going to fund your venture?

With all this in mind, consider how you’ll fund your coffee shop. Your plan can include personal savings, loans, investors, or a combination of these.

Are you going to take a crack at crowdfunding or find a friend willing to invest in your idea like Wes did? Or, perhaps you have relatives who can loan you some startup dough?

You can always seek out venture capital or try to get a bank loan. Whatever funding source you turn to, you're going to need enough moolah to get through the inevitable lean times.

Pro Tip: If you think you need loans or investors, check out our blog on how to get a business loan.

Step 6. Choose the right coffee supplier

Serving up a superior coffee experience is undoubtedly the most crucial aspect of your business. That's why you'll need to find an excellent source for your coffee beans, milk, syrups, equipment, and other necessary supplies.

In the beginning, it's probably best that you outsource the roasting of your beans.

When trying to find a supplier, look for:

• Superior product
• Price point that'll allow you to maximize your profits
• Exceptional assortment

Here's what Wes advises:

[su_quote]You certainly can hire somebody to roast your coffee for you. In our case, we wanted ultimate control over the process, the quality, and the consistency. And we can do that with our own coffee beans coming from specific countries.

How we control the roasting process is really important because we want to know that the process is done correctly, that it's fresh, and that it's done in the way we want it to be done.

So that's why we roast our own coffee. We didn't originally—that was a process that we had outsourced in the beginning years—but eventually, we were able to bring it in house and roast all of our own coffee, and that's been a huge advantage for us.[/su_quote]

As your profits grow, you might want to start thinking about roasting in your shop so that you have a unique product to offer your clientele.

Step 7. Plan the coffee shop layout and decor

Plan the layout of your coffee shop for both functionality and aesthetics. Consider factors like seating arrangements, counter space, and decoration. Check out some of these designs for inspiration.

Pro Tip: Want to get started with a coffee truck or cart? Get all the info you need from our Food Truck Ultimate Buying Guide.

Step 8. Buy coffee equipment and furnishings

Purchase essential coffee shop equipment like an espresso machine, grinders, brewing equipment, refrigerators, and furniture. Make sure they meet industry standards and regulations.

Wes says:

[su_quote]It's really critical to have the right machines.[/su_quote]

Check out part one of our interview with Wes below.

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOdRRuI4g5E"]

Try to get high-quality equipment, even if it's not new. If you get the cheap stuff, you'll only end up regretting it later on.

Here's the list of equipment you'll need to make your small coffee shop a resounding success:

• Espresso machine
• Coffee grinders
• Drip coffee machine
• Blender
• Coffee brewers
• Airpots
• Hot water dispenser
• Reach-in refrigerator
• Ice machine
• Bakery display case
• Three-compartment sink
• Frothing pitchers
• Frothing thermometers
• Tea and coffee mugs
• Espresso cups
• Cup, lid, and straw organizers
• Microwaves or ovens (if serving hot food)
• Point of sale (POS) system

As your business grows and your services expand, you might need other coffee shop equipment like coffee roasters.

One of the biggest lures of a gourmet coffee shop is the atmosphere. Create a relaxing physical space with the right décor, and make sure your café has lots of comfy seating, too.

Step 9. Hire employees

Hire baristas, kitchen staff, and any other necessary employees. Ensure they are trained in coffee preparation, customer service, and health and safety protocols.

Stellar customer service is crucial when you own a coffee shop, so be selective when hiring new staff.

Although your baristas must know how to make beverages correctly, they should also know a little about the coffee itself. These are things like the flavor profiles of each specialty coffee and where the beans come from.

During training, you might want to teach employees about latte art, quality beans, and how to encourage customers to keep coming back.

This is need-to-know information for coffee connoisseurs, so your baristas must be armed with this knowledge.

Pro Tip: Learn more about hiring before you open your own café or coffee shop.

Step 10. Create a menu

Create a menu that includes a variety of coffee beverages, tea options, snacks, and possibly light meals. Consider catering to different dietary preferences and restrictions.

When you open your coffee shop, you need to consistently serve the best coffee and snacks. If you succeed in doing this, you'll have customers flocking to you.

When it comes to creating your menu, keep in mind that you're not reinventing the wheel—you're taking the best food and drinks offered by the top coffee shops and finding ways to make them better.

There's no way a coffee shop can remain economically viable on coffee sales alone. That's why you need to offer bakery items. Having a delicious assortment of quality baked goods near the cash register will tempt the customer to buy.

Try to come up with at least a few menu items that'll dazzle customers with their originality.

Here's what Wes has to say on this subject:

[su_quote]It's how you can make something creatively different in this space that attracts people and maybe attracts a different market segment than you're normally pulling.[/su_quote]

Check out part two of our interview with Wes below.

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbbPRvrUjYI"]

Step 11. Start coffee shop marketing

Create a strong brand identity, including a memorable logo and a cohesive visual theme.

Develop a marketing plan that includes an online presence (website, social media), promotions, and possibly partnerships with local businesses.

You want to whip customers into a buying frenzy even before you open your doors.

One way to do that is a direct mail or email campaign sending out coupons for free coffee. Do a little research to find out what sort of marketing would be best for your coffee shop.

Here's what Wes has to say about that:

[su_quote]We actually don't spend a lot of money [on] marketing. It's changed over time. So when we first started, we were looking at what are other people doing, how are they marketing themselves, and we realized we didn't need to do a lot of marketing, we didn't need to put advertisements in newspaper(s), that was a thing, back 18 years ago… there was no Facebook, there was no website you could put up, and people would understand what you're doing. So, we actually realized that the best form of advertising for us was putting multiple locations within a certain geographic territory.[/su_quote]

When he first started out almost 20 years ago, his only marketing was opening up new coffee shops! Which, of course, is an atypical way to market yourself. Today, with the advent of social media, Woods Coffee has changed its marketing tactics:

[su_quote][Now], social media is big for us. We're pretty dominant in our space in this area on social media, and that's been a lot of fun. It's a great vehicle for us to show some of our creativity and how people understand who we are and what we offer.[/su_quote]

Step 12. Comply with all regulations

Obtain all necessary permits and licenses to operate a food and beverage business in your area. This may include health department permits, business licenses, and signage permits.

There are permits and licenses you're going to need before you can start serving customers. This is a long and drawn-out process, so make sure you start early.

Here's what you might need:

• Business and liability insurance
• Food and drink handler certificate
• Health inspection certificate
• Fire certificate
• Kitchen insurance
• Certificate of incorporation
• Business license
• Employment agreement
• Building permit

Step 13. Soft launch your coffee shop

Conduct a soft opening to test your operations, gather feedback, and make any necessary adjustments before the official opening. These are normally days when family and friends are invited to try the menu.

This will give your coffee business a chance to work with the POS system and inventory management system.

Step 14. Host a grand opening

Plan a grand opening event to generate excitement and attract customers to your coffee shop. Contact the local news or a PR firm to help you get the news out. Run paid ads with a promo.

Pro Tip: At the grand opening, encourage reviews by using a QR code to send customers directly to your shop's review page.

Step 15. Manage your coffee shop business

You’ll need to establish efficient operating procedures for ordering supplies, scheduling employees, managing inventory, handling finances, and maintaining equipment.

There are restaurant management systems that combine many of these into one system, or you can choose systems that work best for each process.

Pro Tip: Learn more about restaurant management systems.

Step 16. Provide excellent customer service

Focus on providing excellent customer service, quality products, and a comfortable atmosphere to encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.

Your customer service at a coffee shop is heavily impacted by a few things, including:

• Speed of service: Make sure to have enough staff to get people their coffee in a timely manner. To give you an idea, Dunkin serves customers in less than three minutes, while Starbucks takes about four minutes and 30 seconds.
• Correctness of order: A study by Restaurant Business Online found that over 25% of orders have issues and 42.3% of errors were because restaurants messed up. The rest were due to delivery issues. Make sure to get it right.
• Friendliness of staff: A polite, attentive staff goes a long way. One of the things many restaurants do that should be avoided is trying to dominate the order process. Let your customers order unless they communicate they need help.
• Consistency of drinks: Make it easy for your staff to make the drinks the same every time. Provide recipes and utensils that show how much of each product to use.
• Mobile ordering: Let people order online to save time.
• Delivery apps: Find ways to make sure your cold drinks are cold and hot drinks are hot when they are delivered to a customer. You can’t count on the delivery driver to get that right.

Step 17. Grow your coffee shop business

Although opening multiple stores was always a part of the Woods Coffee business plan, it happened much sooner than Wes thought it would.

That's because the opportunity to open a second coffee shop fell into their laps in the form of a perfect location they couldn't let pass by.

They seized this opportunity and opened their second store. It was also a way to show the world they were aggressive, growing, and owned their market.

Put a second store in a 6,000-resident town, and you’re going to get a lot of attention. The bold move drove sales in both stores, and they both grew dramatically!

You can do the same thing—just make sure you open your second spot in a carefully planned way. Wes told us having multiple business locations isn’t always the best approach:

[su_quote]It has to be part of your business plan. If you follow your business plan and have it laid out exactly what you wanna do, then follow it. You can't just change midstream. Some businesses are much more successful with just one location. In our case, it just happens to be part of our growth plan and part of our experience that we have multiple locations, and it was part of that original plan that we're executing today. But the idea of ‘How do you scale? How do you grow?’—it's really important. We don't put a lot of money into real estate and buying things. We'd really like to keep our capital fluid and moving. And if we can open more stores, we feel that's better for us.[/su_quote]

Opening a coffee shop FAQ

What is donut shop coffee?

Donut shop coffee is typically an Arabica bean that pairs well with donuts. These can be anywhere from a light to dark roast, but they will normally be slightly sweeter than other coffee and work well with cream or milk.

What is a coffee shop bar?

A coffee shop bar is a section in a coffee shop where customers can order and enjoy alcoholic beverages in addition to coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks.

What is a café?

A café is similar to a coffee shop but will normally serve slightly more elaborate food than a coffee shop (without having either the size or the selections of a full restaurant).

Go start a successful coffee shop

If you do the proper market research, write and follow a solid business plan, and focus on continuous improvement, you should find success when you open a coffee shop.

Wes was able to open a coffee shop and grow it to 19 locations. That means you can, too!

What’s the signature drink you’ll use to build your multi-million-dollar coffee empire?

Did you know that approximately one in nine men owns a small business? If you want to join the ranks of small business owners, check out some of our best business ideas for men.

Many of these business ideas are working with your hands. Most of them make great money and will help you become more self-sufficient. 

What are the 10 most profitable businesses for men?

Want to get the most bang for your buck? We’ll start our list with the most profitable business ideas, ones with a high return on your investment of time and energy.

#1. Social media marketing

Average Annual Revenue: $817K
Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
Startup Costs: $100-$10K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
Best for: Social media experts, people with strong digital marketing skills

These days, just about every business owner uses social media sites to connect with their customers, but not all entrepreneurs are experts in these platforms. That makes becoming a social media manager one of the most profitable business ideas for men with strong marketing skills and social media expertise. 

While you can make good money in social media marketing as a one-man business idea, starting an agency lets you scale revenue even further. Eric Berman started Brandetize in 2001, and today the company earns an average revenue of $400,000 a month. Listen to his advice on how to get started here:

#2. App and software development

Average Annual Revenue: $400K-$1M+
Average Profit Margins: 14.5%
Startup Costs: $100-$50K, depending on size and scope
Time To Revenue: 3 months to 2 years
Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.1%
Best for: Programmers, software developers, digital design experts

An average of 250 million apps are downloaded every day, with $129 billion spent on apps in 2022. You can get in on this billion-dollar industry by starting your own business selling apps on the Google Play store or Apple app store.

One great thing about software or app development is the variety of revenue streams. You can sell the app itself, include in-app purchases, or design custom software for other businesses. 

Whatever business model you choose, you don’t need much to get started. With just a few tools and coding skills, you can turn your app idea into a lucrative business venture. 

How lucrative? Pace Ellsworth makes an average of $45,000 a month with his software development business. Find out more in this podcast interview:

#3. Dropshipping business

Average Annual Revenue: $36K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 5%
Startup Costs: $150-$500
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 25%
Best for: marketing, social media, and automation experts; organized and process-oriented entrepreneurs

If you’re looking for profitable one-man businesses you can start from home, dropshipping is an excellent way to earn money online with a small startup capital investment.

In a dropshipping business, you sell products that are made and stored elsewhere. The dropshipper markets and sells products to customers through their own website or online store but doesn’t need to store or ship the inventory themselves. 

The UpFlip blog on how to start dropshipping has step-by-step advice for starting your own successful business in this niche. We also did a podcast interview with Heather Johnson, who started her print-on-demand dropshipping business as a side hustle and now makes an average of $15,000 a month in revenue. Hear her advice here:

#4. Cleaning business

Average Annual Revenue: $74K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$30K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: Detail-oriented entrepreneurs, organizers and neat freaks

In the post-pandemic world, people are more concerned than ever with keeping their environment clean both at home and in the workplace. This makes a cleaning business a very profitable small business idea with a high demand. 

There are a variety of models for a cleaning business. You can work with both residential and commercial customers or focus on a tighter niche, like home cleaning or janitorial services. You can also work with other local businesses like Airbnbs or apartment building landlords. 

The UpFlip 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint is an excellent resource for anyone who’s considering this profitable small business idea. You can also hear advice from course instructor Chris Mondragon in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcYIYdqegGA"]

#5. Catering business

Average Annual Revenue: $124K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
Best for: chefs, cooks, bakers, and other food experts

Restaurant businesses can be very lucrative, but they require substantial financial resources to start and have a high failure rate, with 80% failing within their first 5 years according to the National Restaurant Association.

A catering business is an excellent alternative, with significantly lower startup investment and more flexibility than a brick-and-mortar restaurant business.

Connecting with other small business owners is a great way to grow a catering business. For example, you could sell grab-and-go options in a cafe, or partner with an event planning business to cater weddings, parties, or corporate events.  

#6. Food truck business

Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: outgoing food experts, chefs, and cooks with strong marketing and customer service skills

Another alternative way to get into the food retail industry is to start a food truck. Like catering, this is a profitable business idea for people who have cooking and customer service skills but lack the capital to start a full-service restaurant. 

Like a catering business, a food truck offers lots of flexibility and room for growth. Carlo Chalisea started with a small food cart, expanding into a full truck and then into a restaurant as his business grew. Hear his story here:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPTE67PYcY&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7XltYGQUA7hfYfjwCWGHgwiC&index=8"]

#7. Bakery business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.52M
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $100-$3M
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
Best for: foodies, bakers, food service professionals

Another of the most profitable small business ideas for men who love food is to open a bakery. Like catering, there are multiple ways to start your own bakery business. One business model is to have your own storefront, like the 7-figure Wild Wheat bakery:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_xwBgyFFU"]

You can also make bread and pastries for commercial customers like cafes and restaurants or sell baked goods directly to customers in an online store. 

The variety of revenue streams you can explore is why a bakery is among the most profitable small business ideas in the food industry.

#8. Vending business

Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
Startup Costs: $2K-$10K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
Best for: organized entrepreneurs who like driving; people who want a semi-passive business

Vending machines are a convenient way to provide food and drinks in schools, workplaces, and other places people gather. A vending business is among the best business ideas for men who want full control over their schedule. It’s also one of the top business ideas for beginners since you don’t need special skills or equipment to be successful. 

The start-up costs for a vending business vary widely. They can be as low as a few thousand dollars if you start with just a few machines, or $25,000 or more if you’re buying an entire route. 

Adam Hill of Hill Vending walks through the process of starting a vending business step-by-step in UpFlip’s Vending Bootcamp. You can also hear some of Adam’s insights in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_Y-O1nosw"]

#9. Construction business

Average Annual Revenue: $696K+
Average Profit Margins: 3.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3%
Best for: skilled tradesmen, architects, builders, and real estate experts

The U.S. construction market was a $2.1 trillion industry in 2022, and that market is growing. General contractors and other construction professionals work with both residential and commercial customers, and both sectors are forecasted to grow over the next five years. 

You will need to be licensed to run your own successful business in construction. You don’t need to go to school to get the necessary skills and knowledge, though. Vitaly from VP Homes learned the trade on the job when he was 18 and now builds custom homes for a very healthy profit (hear his advice in the video below).

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuqVb9B58CE"]

#10. Car rental business

Average Annual Revenue: $5M+
Average Profit Margins: 6.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
Best for: mechanics, car experts, and collectors

If you have a passion for classic or luxury cars, you can turn that into a profitable small business idea with a rental service. 

While buying a large rental fleet can mean a 7-figure investment, there are more affordable ways to get started, too. One option is to rent out cars you already own through a site like Turo, then use that revenue to expand your fleet. Car repair experts can also save on both initial and ongoing costs by restoring and maintaining vehicles themselves. 

As for how much you can make, Ronnie Danelian averages $175,000 a month with Legends Car Rentals. Hear how he got started in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_01eckETe0"]

12 unique business ideas for men

#1. Floor coating business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.2M+
Average Profit Margins: 2.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.1%
Best for: construction and repair professionals, systems-oriented entrepreneurs, people with skills in math and chemistry

Epoxy floor coating is a protective layer often used in commercial spaces or residential garages. Installing floor coatings is one of the best small business ideas for men who like both working with their hands and meeting and talking to people. 

It’s also a great choice for people who want to build a team and focus on sales, marketing, and growing the business. That’s what Brandon Wise did when he started Wise Coatings, and he quickly scaled to $500,000 a month in revenue. Here’s how he did it:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6mghjqijuU"]

You will need some niche knowledge to install floor coatings. Getting a mentor in the business can be a huge help in doing this if you don’t have experience to draw on. 

#2. Solar business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.3M
Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
Best for: construction workers, effective salesmen, people with a passion for the environment

Solar panel installation is a fast-growing industry, projected by the BLS to grow at a CAGR of 27% through 2031. As people look for ways to live more sustainably, the demand for solar power will continue to rise. 

Installing solar panels requires some construction knowledge in areas like roofing, metal fabrication, and basic contractor skills. This is one reason it’s great for a male entrepreneur with a background in construction. 

A solar business can make very good money for those with a combination of sales and construction skills. There are also niches like solar landscape design or photovoltaic system installation that can be a profitable business model in saturated markets.

#3. Drone business 

Average Annual Revenue: $50K
Average Profit Margins: 7.3%
Startup Costs: $1K-$10K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
Best for: photographers and videographers, drone users and experts

Drone photography has a ton of uses. You can record events like festivals and weddings, work with real estate agents and land surveyors, or make marketing and advertising materials for other local businesses. 

Whichever of these drone business ideas you’re drawn to, it’s a unique and lucrative way to start your own business as a photographer. Mile High Productions started as a side hustle and grew to $35,000 in revenue a month by landing high-profile clients. Hear their advice on getting started in this video:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUcv1HAAbns"]

#4. Scrap metal business

Average Annual Revenue: $52M+
Average Profit Margins: 2.9%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
Best for: materials and construction experts, business men who like physical work

Scrap metal recycling might not be the most glamorous option on the list, but its high demand makes it a great small business idea for men who like physical work. The sector is expected to grow to $88.5 billion by 2030, opening up lots of opportunities for new profitable business ideas.   

A scrap metal business collects recyclable materials and turns them into raw materials for new goods. Along with being a potentially profitable small business idea, this helps the environment by reducing the trash in landfills and the need to mine new metals.

You will need some niche knowledge about different metals and how to process and separate objects for scrap. Getting experience or a mentor in the industry is a crucial factor in succeeding in this industry.

#5. Car repair or tuning

Average Annual Revenue: $268K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.1%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2%
Best for: mechanics and car experts, detail-oriented entrepreneurs

More than 91% of U.S. households own at least one car, and people are keeping those cars longer than in the past. The consistent demand for automotive services puts this among the best small business ideas for men who love cars.

One option is to open an auto repair shop.This can require a high startup investment, though it can also yield big returns. This step-by-step blog post explains how Lucky Sing started his $500,000 a year auto shop with $20,000.

Car tuning is another niche business for auto experts. You can learn how the $7 million tuning company Sheepy Race started in this video:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpaXqc2fbIU"]

#6. Fingerprinting business

Average Annual Revenue: $132K+
Average Profit Margins: 9.1%
Startup Costs: $500-$250K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.6%
Best for: legal and security professionals, regulatory experts, process- and detail-oriented entrepreneurs

Lots of people need fingerprinting services, from law enforcement to businesses doing background checks on new hires. 

Fingerprinting is a great business idea with a minimal initial investment. While you will need some training, you don’t need a degree or other costly education. 

Dan Jurkowisch is an expert in fingerprinting businesses, and he shared his insights on how to start this profitable business idea in this podcast:

#7. Cell phone or electronics repair

Average Annual Revenue: $560K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
Best for: detail- and systems-focused entrepreneurs, electronics and repair experts

Electronics repair is a billion-dollar business—$21.1 billion in 2022, to be exact. This puts it among the profitable small business ideas for men who know how to fix cell phones, computers, and other electronics.

Electronics repair is a flexible business with low start-up costs. You need just a few tools and a space to make repairs. As a home business for men that advertises services online, you can get started for under $100. 

A physical storefront will cost more but also has higher revenue potential. Find out how Joe’s Electronics Repair grew to a 7-figure small business in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqce8NAZWYw"]

#8. Shed building business

Average Annual Revenue: $696K+
Average Profit Margins: 3.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3%
Best for: handymen, DIY builders, construction and woodworkers

Building a shed is one way homeowners can maximize the usable space on their property. Since the training and licensing requirements are lower compared to other construction businesses, it’s a good business idea for men who love to build things but don’t have construction industry experience.

Having a niche can help you grow faster in this industry. Outdoor Office focuses on building shed workspaces. After starting in a garage, it quickly grew to a $1.2-million-a-year business. 

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1z9ulIh7QU"]

#9. Painting business

Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
Average Profit Margins: 7.2%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -2.0%
Best for: men who like physical and outdoor work, painters and artists, construction and repair pros

Painting is another excellent small business idea for men in the construction niche that doesn’t require licensing or extensive training. 

Many successful small businesses in painting start as small one-man business ideas. There’s a lot of growth potential, too. Doug Caris bought Arizona Painting Company in 2014 and has grown it to 5 locations with $2 million in monthly revenue. He explains how he did it in this podcast:

#10. Van conversion business

Average Annual Revenue: $665K+
Average Profit Margins: 7.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.8%
Best for: DIY builders and makers, creative problem solvers, interior design pros

Converted vans are a favorite vehicle of digital nomads and other travelers. Turning vans into mobile living spaces can be a fun and lucrative business for men, letting you earn money from your building and design skills. 

Axis Vehicles is just one of many successful small businesses in this niche. You can find out how they grew to $65,000 a month in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McRyeamnWXY"]

#11. Trucking business

Average Annual Revenue: $449K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: logistics experts, travelers and drivers, vehicle repair and maintenance pros

Roughly 72% of freight in the U.S. is transported by truck, driving the industry’s $875 billion in revenue in 2021. That puts trucking among the best business ideas for men who have a mind for logistics or experience in freight transportation. 

While a trucking business can have high start-up costs, there’s a lower barrier to entry on the knowledge side. Mikael Sant started Sant Lines when he was only 19, so this is a good option for a young business man, too. Hear how Mikael grew his company in this podcast interview:

#12. Gym or personal trainer business

Average Annual Revenue: $16K+
Average Profit Margins: 10.9%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6%
Best for: athletes, fitness and exercise experts, strong communicators and motivators

Fitness is another massive industry, especially in the United States, where it generated over $1.5 billion in revenue in 2022. This puts being a personal trainer or gym owner among the best small business ideas for men with a passion for exercise and wellness. 

Being a personal trainer is a great home-based business for men who want to get into the fitness industry. You can teach out of a home studio, go to clients’ homes, or work out of a community center or local gym.

If you want your own brick-and-mortar business, you can start a gym. That has a higher startup cost, though it might be smaller than you’d expect. Jake Brog started his own gym for less than $10,000 and explains how in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchlyN9RBuw"]

1-man business ideas: What are 5 good business ideas for solo entrepreneurs?

#1. Start your own e-commerce business

Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
Startup Costs: $100-$1K
Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
Best for: makers and hand-crafters, designers, sales and marketing experts

Starting your own online store is a great way to earn money from anywhere on your own schedule. What’s great about an e-commerce business is that you can sell anything you can find a market for. 

An e-commerce business is the best fit for people with digital marketing skills, though you can also develop these as you grow if you don’t have them from the start.

This is also a business you can start with 1000 dollars or less. You can check out this step-by-step guide for advice on starting your own online store, or watch this interview with the founder of the unique e-commerce business I Heart Dogs:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqqhVT84pnc"]

#2. Event planning business

Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
Average Profit Margins: 12.2%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1%
Best for: strong networkers, extroverts, organized and system-driven businessmen

Event planning is often overlooked on lists of manly business ideas, but it’s among the best small business ideas for men who are extroverted and excel at planning and organization.

A successful business man with a strong local network can make good money organizing private parties, community gatherings, or conferences and other corporate events. This variety is one reason it’s among the best self-employed ideas for men.

#3. Mobile detailing

Average Annual Revenue: $241K+
Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.8%
Best for: car and truck lovers, detail-oriented and outgoing entrepreneurs

Mobile detailing is an ideal small business for men who want a minimal initial investment and high profit potential. Since you go to your customers, you don’t need a commercial space. The convenience of mobile services also gives this sector high demand.

You can start a mobile detailing business with as little as $500. Learn how Alan from GoDetail grew his detailing business revenue in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riTWH_MG6Uc&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7XkECNQPPT_LNAxEghhffqv7&index=3"]

#4. Affiliate marketing

Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$160K
Average Profit Margins: 8%
Startup Costs: $500-$2K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
Best for: bloggers, influencers, digital marketing and social media experts

Many successful bloggers use affiliate marketing as an extra revenue stream. It’s also among the top stand-alone home business ideas for men who want flexibility and the potential for passive income. All you need to start is your own website, blog, or other outlet to connect with customers.

As you might guess from the name, marketing skills are crucial for a small business man to succeed in this business. Matt Diggity is an expert in affiliate marketing and shares more tips in this podcast interview:

#5. Data entry

Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
Startup Costs: $100-$200
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.90%
Best for: fast typers, clerical and administrative pros, people with a sharp eye for details

Data entry is the best one-man business to start if you want to make money quickly without investing much up front. All you need is basic computer equipment and an account on a site like Upwork or PeoplePerHour to get clients. 

While data entry isn’t the most exciting work for many, it is very flexible, and there’s consistent demand for these services. You can also use automation and other software tools to handle the more repetitive work, increasing your profitability at the same time.

What are 3 good business ideas for 25-year-old men?

#1. Tutoring 

Average Annual Revenue: $30K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 13.1%
Startup Costs: $100-$1K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
Best for: Educators, experts in academic subjects, people who want to help and mentor others

Offering tutoring services is a popular way for students and recent graduates to earn extra cash. It’s also an excellent home-based business idea with a low startup cost. 

Communication skills are key to starting a successful business in tutoring services. Having knowledge in a school subject area is helpful, too, but that won’t help your students if you can’t convey that knowledge effectively. 

As for where to get students, one great way is to connect with local schools and colleges. You can also tutor online through platforms like The Tuition Teacher, Preply, TutorMe, or Wyzant.

#2. Pressure washing business

Average Annual Revenue: $64K+
Average Profit Margins: 8.8%
Startup Costs: $200-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: men who want to work outdoors; people with customer service, time management, and mechanical skills

Pressure washing is among the best small businesses for men under 25 because it’s cheap to start and easy to learn. A pressure washing business also has big revenue potential. 

Chase Lille started his business when he was 18, and he brings home 50% margins on his $12,000 average monthly revenue. Hear how he got started in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzuP6V0UhA"]

#3. Landscaping business 

Average Annual Revenue: $272K+
Average Profit Margins: 8.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.1%
Best for: gardeners, landscape designers, people who love hands-on, outdoor work

Rounding out our recommended self-business ideas for men under 25, a landscaping business shares a lot of advantages with pressure washing. This includes a low startup cost, no licensing or education requirements, and high scalability.

Mike Andes was in his early 20s when he started Augusta Lawn Care. Within three years, he grew it to 7-figures and started franchising to grow even further. Hear his story in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTnmagGo32Q&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7Xk_AjUgCgvs6gxYuSFNHBJW&index=5"]

3 small business ideas for a 50 year-old man

#1. Real estate business 

Average Annual Revenue: $298K+
Average Profit Margins: 44.6%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3%
Best for: strong communicators and negotiators, smart investors, construction and home repair pros

If you’re a business man with money, investing that into real estate could be your best business idea. There are a variety of small business ideas for men in the real estate sector, from flipping homes to managing multi-family properties to renting homes out as a landlord or Airbnb host.

Thach Nguyen built his real estate business from scratch. After starting as a realtor, he launched his own business by buying properties and now averages $800,000 in revenue every month. Hear his story and advice in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWCzwn3R78A"]

#2. Business consultant

Average Annual Revenue: $1.4K
Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
Best for: leadership experts, strong communicators, educators with business expertise

Experience is one advantage that comes with age. As a business consultant, you leverage that experience to earn an income and share successful entrepreneur small business ideas with others.

You can be a general business consultant or focus on a niche where you have expertise. For example, Ryan Gromfin pivoted from a career managing restaurants to consulting, giving him both more freedom and a higher income. Hear his advice in this interview:

#3. Handyman business

Average Annual Revenue: $204K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
Best for: construction and repair pros, creative problem solvers, outgoing and hands-on entrepreneurs

Fixing things is one of those hobbies for men in their 40s that is also among the best business ideas for men in their 50s. A handyman does some physical work, but not the heavy lifting and exhausting labor found elsewhere in the construction industry.

This is also among the best side business ideas for men, and is a viable way to earn extra cash out of your home. Just advertise your services online through sites like Nextdoor or Craigslist and you can start building a customer base. 

Caleb Ingraham started in construction. Seeing the demand for handyman services prompted him to pursue his own small business idea. Learn how he makes $1,000 a day in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leUta_q_MPQ"]

Men’s Small Business Ideas FAQ 

What is the best business to start for men?

There’s no single answer for the best business for men because some men like working outdoors, some like managing, some like problem-solving, and some just want to pay someone else to do the work.

If a business man wants the most profitable business, it’s an online lending company with nearly 100% gross profit and up to 30% net profit.

What businesses are easy to own?

The easiest businesses to own are where you trade your time for money. They normally have low startup costs, few regulations, and are exempt from taxes in many places. Consider ones like:

• Tutoring
• Affiliate marketing
• Personal Trainers
• Fingerprinting
• Data Entry
• Repair Businesses
• Recycling

What are some business ideas for black males?

Black businessmen can do anything any other businessmen do. The wealthiest black people in America develop their wealth from the entertainment industry and fashion, but these industries create the most millionaires

• Finance and Investments
• Technology
• Manufacturing
• Fashion and Retail
• Healthcare

I Wanted 1000 Business Ideas!

Be wary of anyone claiming to have more than 1,000 business ideas. 

Here’s why:

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) currently only has 1055 NAICS codes. That means lists of business ideas with more businesses are repeating their ideas. 

Here’s the downloadable all-business list.

What small business idea do you like?

There are so many business ideas for men that you can pursue whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean you should just jump in. 

Women-owned businesses tend to be more successful, which means you might be better off partnering to get a more balanced approach.

If you start a business, would it be on your own or with a partner?

From grocery stores to Amazon, you see private label products all day long. But do you know how to find private label products? We’ve talked to a lot of people who make money selling private label products. Amazon FBA is one of their favorite tools to sell online, and they had some great tips about other sales outlets as well. We’ll provide you with a guide to the product development process with input from interviews we’ve done with some of the most successful independent private label sellers. [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] You’ll learn all there is to know on topics like these:

• What Private Labeling Is
• How to Private Label Products
• How to Find Private Labels
• Best Private Label Manufacturers Directories
• How to Sell Private Label
• Private Labeling Amazon FBA

[/su_note] Click any of the links above to jump to the section that most interests you.

What are Private Label Products?

Private label products are products created by a manufacturer with the intent for an exclusive third party to sell them using a different brand name. Private labeling removes the need to invest in high-priced equipment by paying an existing manufacturer for the production of goods. Private label businesses are growing increasingly popular in the ecommerce field thanks to the reduced startup costs of a private label brand.

White Label vs Private Label

Understanding the difference between private label vs white label is important before getting started in this field. Private labeling provides exclusivity for the retailer or wholesaler. White labeling allows multiple retailers to add their branding to the product and sell it as their own.  Here’s what this confusion can cause harm to your business: If you create a private label product and sign a manufacturing agreement as a white label product, you have effectively allowed the third-party manufacturer to use and sell your intellectual property for their gains. Moral of the story? Make sure to read your contract!

How Much Do Private Label Products Make?

According to Statista, private label products accounted for $6.6 trillion of 2021 GDP and are projected to hit $7.9 trillion in 2026. This includes big brands that offer their own branded products. To draw inspiration from which products sell most, look at the major retail private labels:

• Walmart: Great Value
• Amazon: Amazon Basics
• Costco: Kirkland
• Target: Archer Farms

Benefits of Selling Private Label Products

You might want to consider becoming a private label seller for these advantages:

• You Control Production: Specifying quality, materials, ingredients, and production rate (as long as it is over the minimum order quantity (MOQ) provides more control than white label brands.
• You Can Act Quicker: Major competitors have to go through a chain of command, but a private label brand can adjust to market conditions faster.
• You Set Pricing: You get to set the pricing to get the margins you need. Using another business model might make pricing competitively difficult. (If your prices are too high, you won’t sell products, though).
• You Control Marketing: When you sell another company’s products, you have to obey their brand communication guide. When you create your own product ideas, you can package them how you want and market them to your target audience without worrying if someone will reject your marketing ideas.

Cons of Selling Private Label Products

Selling private label products doesn’t come without challenges. Here are some to keep in mind:

• Manufacturer Quality: Every manufacturer has their own quality control standards. If your product quality expectations are higher than those of your suppliers, you might be disappointed.
• Consumer Perception: Private brands pop up every day with the prevalence of print-on-demand. Some are amazing, while others are cheap and poorly made. Consumers need time to trust a brand. Do everything you can to build their trust.
• Loyalty Building: Your target audience doesn’t know you yet. Until they get to know you and love your brand, finding customers for your private label products may be difficult.

How to Private Label Products

You’ll need to perform the following tasks when you create your own brand name products: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

1. Decide what type of private brand you’ll be.
2. Find private label manufacturers.
3. Test their products.
4. Negotiate a deal.

[/su_note]

What are the Best Niche Markets?

First, you’ll want to perform market research. You’ll want to establish:

• The products you want to sell
• The target market for the products
• Where you will sell the products
• How you will market the products

This will impact what private label manufacturers you want to approach. It will also impact the profit margins you earn on your private label products. Most private labels work best with products that are replenished regularly, but there are a few that don’t fall into this category.

Common Private Label Product Ideas

We pulled a list of commonly searched private label, white label, and branded products from ahrefs.com to find out what industries use the most private label-ready products. If you’re looking for a niche market, consider these private labeling ideas:

• Private label clothing
• Private label hair care products
• Branded promotional products
• White label food products
• Private label skin care products
• White label marketing products
• Private label detailing products
• Private label cleaning products
• White label furniture
• Private label pet products
• Private label CBD products

This is just an overview to get the wheels turning in your brain. We’ll cover some of these categories more in-depth later in the article.

Where To Find the Best Private Label Suppliers

Next, you’ll need to choose a private label supplier. There are plenty of private label suppliers, depending on your industry. Check a supplier directory like:

• ThomasNET: The most sophisticated database of third party manufacturers.
• Private Label Help: 27 categories of private label manufacturers.
• HAPPI: Find a private label manufacturer by industry or country.
• Impressions: Find apparel private label manufacturers.

(Keep reading—there’s more info on these manufacturers later on.) Once you’ve found that a private label manufacturer creates products similar to the ones you want to sell, it’s time to ask them to send a sample.

Test Each Private Label Manufacturer

Before you get into a minimum order quantity contract and provide the third party manufacturer with your intellectual property, you want to verify they are a reliable manufacturer. That means you’ll want to ask the private label manufacturer for some samples. Pay attention to aspects like: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

• How long does it take to receive your shipment?
• How much did the products cost before shipping?
• Is the quality of the products consistent?
• How much did shipping cost?
• How long was shipping vs lead time?

[/su_note] These questions will help you set benchmarks when comparing the private label products. Once you establish which manufacturer to make part of your supply chain, it’s time to move to the next step.

Negotiate A Private Label Brand Contract

Private labeling will require a contract between your business and the third party manufacturer. The contract terms may be dictated by the private label manufacturer, the private label, or negotiated. If you are using print-on-demand, the manufacturer will almost always dictate the terms, while terms for a custom-made product will be negotiated. Even when terms are negotiated, there are some specifics that may be unchangeable, like the minimum order quantity (MOQ) or quality controls. Now that you understand the process of private labeling, let’s circle back to where to find private label products to start your business.

How to Find Private Label Products

There are a ton of ways to find private label products for small business ventures. As part of this article, I looked for the most commonly searched private and white label products on Google. Here are the high-level categories that are most searched.

Private label bath and body products

This category includes the following search terms:

• Private label beard products
• Private label hair products
• Wholesale organic skin care products private label
• Private label hair products manufacturer
• Private label hair products for small business
• Wholesale private label natural hair products
• Private label body products
• Private label soap

Best Trade Show USA to Resource Private Label Skin Products

It comes as no surprise to me that Las Vegas leads the way in trade shows to promote private label products. If you want to know how to find private label products, go check out some of these conventions.

Vegas Conventions

The following conventions will have private label wholesale beauty product suppliers:

• iSpa Conference and Expo: May 9-11, 2023
• International Beauty Show: June 24-26, 2023
• Cosmoprof: July 11-13, 2023
• SupplySide West: Oct 23-27, 2023

Most Beauty Shows Change Cities Each Year

Some other tradeshows to check out include:

• Premiere Orlando: Largest North American private labeling convention for beauty supplies.
• The Makeup Show: Hosts three conferences across the country.
• IndieBeauty Expo: This convention is primarily independent products, while others are more focused on the beauty aspect.

Find more conventions and trade shows that present private label products.

Private Label Hemp Products

To find hemp and CBD private label products to sell on Amazon and other sites, search terms like:

• Private label CBD products low minimum
• Cannabidiol private label
• Best private label CBD companies
• CBD white labeling companies
• CBD private label dropship
• private label CBD manufacturer

Joy Organics appears to be one of the better private label products examples in this industry.

Best Private Label Manufacturers

Thomasnet

Find US and Canadian manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers on this online database. Thomasnet lets you compare manufacturers by size, history, sales, standards they follow, and more. This free database is a great place to start your journey creating private label products. Learn more about Thomasnet.

AOP+

AOP+ sells print-on-demand products and connects to Etsy and Shopify to make selling in the US, UK, and EU easier. They handle order processing and fulfillment in-house, which is a rarity for print-on-demand companies. Get clothing, accessories, and other products manufactured and shipped to your customers with AOP+. 

Maker’s Row 

Maker’s Row was started in 2012 to connect businesses with American manufacturers. Unfortunately, this platform has a monthly or annual fee that will cost up to $1,800 per year. You can see Maker’s Row online or at many trade shows like the MAGIC fashion show.

MFG

Another popular directory is MFG.  You can search suppliers by continent. This directory is over 20 years old and allows you to find manufacturers or create a free profile to request quotes and use other features. While I haven’t dug deep into MFG’s database, they seem to be more focused on metals and plastics. 

Kompass

This free B2B connects businesses in more than  60 countries. Kompass is one of the smaller databases, but it has more countries you can work with than other directories. I also really like that Kompass makes it easy to tell what kind of suppliers they have on their website.

SaleHoo

Check out SaleHoo for tools that go beyond a suppliers’ directory. This company offers educational materials, market research tools, and a forum to get the most out of your private label products and dropshipping company. You’ll have options for monthly, annual, or lifetime plans depending on your needs, but you can get access for as low as $67.  

How to Sell Private Label Products

After you have sourced your private label products, you’ll need to set up the system to sell your private label goods. You’ll need to perform the following steps when you have private label products to sell.

1. Register your private label business
2. Create branded packaging
3. Build a website (or list your products in an online marketplace)
4. Market your product line
5. Start selling
6. Get reviews 
7. Pay your taxes

Let’s go through each of the steps about selling private label products.

Step 1. Register Your Private Label Business

A private label business should form their legal business entity before they start accumulating costs. This means you’ll need to: [su_quote]

• Get an LLC or Corporation
• Get a Sales Tax Permit
• Get a Business Bank Account

[/su_quote] You can learn to do all these in our learning hub, which gives step-by-step instructions for each of the steps for starting a business.

Step 2. Create Branded Packaging

Now that your private label business is legal, you’ll want to create custom packaging for your private label products. Depending on the product, the business labels might be:

• A sticker on a plastic sleeve
• A custom designed box with brand labels
• Branding labels on the inside of a t-shirt

Check out PackLane’s website for examples of product packages and how quantity impacts pricing. Some of the packaging can be as high as $50 for a single box, but you can save up to 90% when you buy in bulk.

Step 3. Build a Website (or List Your Products in an Online Marketplace)

eCommerce business models make it easy for a business owner to build their own websites and ecommerce stores. This is really important when you have private label products to sell (I’ll tell you more in our cautionary tale). A private label product company will need to:

1. Create an ecommerce market somewhere like Woocommerce or Shopify
2. Setup a payment processor
3. Take photos of their own branded products
4. Write compelling product descriptions

Learn more about creating an online store.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

  A consulting client of mine contracted one of the top web development companies in the area to create his online store. He wanted the first heading to be below the fold (not visible when you first open the webpage) because he spent $10K+ on photography to have beautiful pictures that conveyed the style of the brand. The website developers refused and never delivered a final product because they disagreed with his request.  Long story short, the client has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, has huge amounts of inventory, and has pretty much written off his business because he paid for everything on the front end and never got past this hiccup with the website. [/su_note]

Step 4. Market Your Product Line

Once you have an online store, you’ll want to start marketing your products. There are a lot of ways to market private labeling companies. Some of the best ways are:

• Keyword Research and Optimization
• Content Creation
• Sharing on Social Media
• Product Giveaways 
• Influencer Marketing
• Listing Them in Other Marketplaces

Keyword Research and Optimization

Even the best private label products aren’t going to sell themselves. People have to know about them. You need to perform keyword research and optimize your site to meet the terms that people search for when looking for a product.  For instance, the owner of Pooch Selfie, a custom product that holds a tennis ball on top of a cell phone, gets around 50% of his ecommerce store traffic from people who find his private label products by searching for things like “dog selfie sticks” or “Shark Tank dog toys” as opposed to the branded term. Watch the video below for his tips on creating a custom product. [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7UzP5dVOqA"]

Content Marketing for Private Label Brands

You’ll want to use the keywords you found to drive your content by using them in product pages, URLs, blogs, pictures, and more. Content marketing lets search engines and consumers know that you are an active online business. The more useful the content you create, the more likely your online store is to rank for the subject matters you are targeting. Here at UpFlip, we use SurferSEO and Ahrefs to help our brands rank for keywords.

Social Media

After you’ve written content for your private label business, you should share it on social media. Make sure the content fits both your private label business and the social media platform you share it on. Some types of content perform better on certain social media platforms:

• Short Form Video: TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram
• Long Form Video: YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn
• Pictures: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Blogs: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Experiment with posting times to see what time works best for your own brand.

Everyone Loves Product Giveaways

Private label brands can do well with product giveaways. You’ll want to make the giveaway something that is inexpensive for you, but that will get your private labeling where people use it as frequently as possible. For instance, if you sell private label car care products you might want to do a giveaway for fun branded air fresheners. This gives you an easy way to collect customers’ emails and information to target them for other car cleaning products.

Try Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a great way to help people find private label products. This marketing business model makes use of people who have a large following on social media who can talk about specific niches and bring awareness to their followers.  They can help boost your private label product sales by using your products in a video and sharing the brand identity with their followers. This works particularly well for private label beauty products as followers are eager to learn what an influencer does to achieve specific makeup or hairstyle.

List Your Products in Other Marketplaces

Create an online store on every marketplace you can to get your private labeling in front of as many eyes as you can. According to SimilarWeb, the top places to sell private labeled products are:

• Amazon: Learn more about selling on Amazon.
• Ebay: Learn how to sell private labeling on eBay’s online store.
• Walmart: Find out how to sell your private label apparel or other products on Walmart.com.
• Etsy: Learn about starting an Etsy shop from a brand owner.
• Target: Learn more about private labeling sales through Target.

Hopefully, your product research and private labeling work has paid off. Next, you should start selling your private label products for small business profits.

Step 5. Start Selling Your Private Label Products

Once you’ve created your online store, there are plenty of additional ways to sell your products. You can sell:

• Private label products wholesale
• Private label products in retail stores
• Amazon private label products
• Direct to consumer

Private label companies can also upsell the private label products by suggesting an additional purchase of their own products or retail brands that work well with them. For instance, if you private label hair products, you can suggest someone buy the conditioner when they buy the shampoo and give the customer a discount for buying both together.

Step 6. Get Reviews for Your Private Label Company

No brand starts with instant name recognition. You’ll need to get reviews for your private label to help overcome poor consumer perception of private and white label products. Once people see that a company has great product reviews, they are more likely to accept that the brand identity isn’t just trying to make higher profit margins on generic products. One of the best ways to do this is to automate requests for reviews several days to a week after the consumer has received the product. (Be careful though. Amazon private label products can get in trouble if they request reviews through means other than the standard product review process.)

Step 7. Don’t Forget To Pay Your Taxes

One of the ways many business owners and self-employed people get in trouble is by forgetting to pay their taxes. Many locations require quarterly tax filings for private label business ventures. These filings may include federal income taxes, state income taxes, sales taxes, and payroll taxes. Make sure to keep track of the due dates and work with a licensed tax preparer.

How to Sell Private Label Products on Amazon

Amazon is a great place to sell a private label. Amazon offers multiple ways for merchants to sell, including Amazon FBA, Amazon Merch, and other strategies. It doesn’t matter which strategy you choose; you’ll want to:

1. Perform market research
2. Start an Amazon merchant account
3. Decide how you’ll sell on Amazon
4. Find private label products to sell on Amazon
5. Register your products with Amazon
6. Send them to Amazon FBA private label

Step 1. Research the Market

You’ll want to research Amazon’s seller options to decide which one you want to use. Most Amazon sellers use the FBA service, in which the manufacturer ships your bulk goods to Amazon and Amazon fulfills the order for a referral fee between 5 and 20%. Make sure to read the fees really well because they impact pricing and profitability. One particularly useful trick you can use with Amazon FBA is working with a dropshipper to produce your custom products. Place an original bulk order that is sent to the Amazon warehouse, then every time a product is ordered, have Amazon ship it, send the dropshipper money for more, and you keep the profits. Just like that, you get the benefits of Prime and dropshipping all in one. You’ll also want to research the demand for the product category. Make sure you study the number of competitors and the number of searches for similar products. Michael Jackness, the owner of treadmill.com and Amazon FBA private label stores, told us: [su_quote]Picking the right niche and market is really important. It’s gotten more expensive to get the customer, so you need to be able to sell to them more than once.[/su_quote] Hear more from Michael to learn how he created a $9 million annual ecommerce company. Learn more about market research.

Step 2. Create an Amazon Seller Account

Next, you’ll need to sign up for an Amazon seller account. Go to Seller Central. We show you how to set up an Amazon account in our blog about an Amazon FBA business.

Step 3. Test the Products

Test the products to make sure there are no quality control issues. Depending on the type of product, you’ll do this in different ways.  For example, I stress-test t-shirts by running them through a wash to test how many times you can wash and dry them before the designs wear off. With candles, you might want to test the burn time and see how long it takes to burn them down to nothing. There are plenty of ways to test any product; you should definitely know how long your product will last.

Step 4. Find Private Label Products to Sell

We’ve already provided a list of private label products and where to find them, but you should check out our best things to resell blog for more information on the best products to private label.

Step 5. Register Your Products With Amazon

Any branded products should be registered with Amazon brand services to protect them from being stolen. To do this, you’ll need a registered trademark with the appropriate government office. Check out Amazon’s Brand Services page.

Step 6. Send Your Products to Amazon

To make the most of Amazon, you need to have an Amazon FBA account. Sending your products to Amazon’s warehouse means they qualify for Amazon Prime. You can also qualify for Prime with self fulfillment (but there are more stringent requirements). I strongly suggest reading Amazon’s guide before getting started as well.

People Also Ask

What is White Labeling?

The white labeled definition is to provide the exact same product to different companies with their brand logo on it. The manufacturer normally offers this service for the top products to sell online because it helps them run closer to 100% capacity. The name comes from manufacturers providing the products with a blank white label so other companies can sell the product with their branding.  Vitamins, marketing, and other industries use this strategy to help business owners make more money by filling excess capacity while the marketers can increase their offerings without the additional costs of creating a new manufacturing facility.

What is Private Label Masters?

Private Label Masters is an affiliate course that teaches people about the best thing to sell online through private labeling and white labeling.

What is the Best Product to Sell Online?

The best product to sell online is a product that has the following characteristics:

• High search volume
• Low competition
• High profit margin
• You are knowledgeable and passionate about it

Start Building a Private Label Company Today

At this point, you should be ready to start your market research and start an Amazon private label store. I strongly recommend using the links in this blog to dig deeper into the subject matters you need more information about.  What experience do you have with white label, private label, and custom-made products?