The Best & Worst Businesses To Start In 2025 (These Make Me $1M/Year)

Summary

In 2025, building a successful online income requires careful business model selection. The video highlights businesses to avoid, such as digital agencies, real estate investing, and brick-and-mortar ventures, due to high costs and skill requirements. Instead, it recommends beginner-friendly options like dropshipping, freelancing, content creation, selling digital products, and a special form of affiliate marketing that requires no experience or large following. The speaker emphasizes that affiliate marketing, particularly faceless affiliate marketing, is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make money online with scalable income potential.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting an online business in 2025 requires careful selection—picking the wrong model can lead to wasted time and money.
• 🚫 Avoid high-risk businesses like digital agencies, real estate investing, and stock trading if you're a beginner, as they require specialized skills and large initial investments.
• 💡 The first step in finding a suitable business is understanding your level of experience and risk tolerance. Businesses like cafes and brick-and-mortar shops need substantial capital and are difficult for beginners.
• 💸 Drop shipping, though relatively low cost to start, requires significant skill, persistence, and marketing to succeed. Budget at least $300 for organic marketing, or $3,000-$5,000 for paid ads.
• 🖥️ Freelancing is a great way for beginners to start earning quickly by leveraging skills like copywriting, video editing, or web design. However, it involves trading time for money, limiting income potential.
• ⏳ Service-based freelancing is ideal for beginners but not scalable to a million-dollar income without adding more team members or switching models.
• 🎥 Becoming a content creator on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram is a low-barrier way to earn and scale a business, but competition is increasing as more creators enter the space.
• 📚 Selling digital products (eBooks, courses, memberships) after building an audience allows for scalable income without the need for paid advertising, which is a major cost saver.
• 💪 Focus on a niche that solves a problem (e.g., health, finance, mental health) when selling digital products, as problem-solving niches attract paying customers.
• 💼 Affiliate marketing, especially faceless affiliate marketing, is a low-cost, high-potential business model perfect for beginners. It requires no experience and allows scalability with little initial investment.

Q & A

Why is it risky to start businesses like digital agencies, real estate investing, and stock trading as a beginner in 2025?

These businesses require a significant amount of money to start and specialized skills to succeed. Without experience, beginners are more likely to lose money and face high risks, especially in areas like real estate and stock trading where the chances of success are low without prior knowledge.

What makes dropshipping a potentially profitable yet risky business model for beginners?

Dropshipping offers a low barrier to entry, but it can be challenging and requires developing skills like inventory management, marketing, and customer service. The initial investment may be around $300 for organic marketing, but paid ads could require $3,000 to $5,000 for optimal chances of success. Beginners may face slow returns as they learn the ropes.

Why is freelancing a good option for beginners, and what are its limitations?

Freelancing is a great option for beginners because it allows them to monetize a single skill quickly with minimal startup costs. However, it has limitations in scalability as it involves trading time for money, meaning there's a cap on how much you can earn without burning out or hiring additional help.

How can content creators build a profitable business on social media in 2025?

Content creators can build a profitable business by focusing on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. By posting consistently, building an audience, and monetizing through ads, sponsorships, or selling digital products, creators can earn a full-time income with just a few hours of work per week. However, competition is increasing, and it may become harder to stand out in the future.

What are the advantages of selling digital products over traditional business models?

Selling digital products, like eBooks or online courses, offers a scalable and low-cost business model. Once you build an audience, you don't need to rely on advertising, and you can sell products without needing a physical store or inventory, making it easier to scale and automate.

What is the 'faceless' affiliate marketing model, and why is it effective for beginners?

Faceless affiliate marketing involves promoting products through content without showing your face, typically using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This model is effective for beginners because it doesn't require a large social media following, and with the help of AI tools, you can quickly create content and start generating income.

How do affiliate marketers choose profitable products to promote?

Affiliate marketers choose products that offer high commissions, typically over $50 per sale. They focus on finding niches that align with their interests and create content around these products to attract and convert potential buyers.

What steps should a beginner take to start an affiliate marketing business with no prior experience?

A beginner should start by selecting a niche they are passionate about, building a personal or online brand, and finding high-paying affiliate products to promote. They can then create content for social media platforms, build a blog, and grow an email list to generate passive income.

What role does AI play in the affiliate marketing process, according to the script?

AI tools help automate content creation, allowing affiliate marketers to produce engaging content in minutes. These tools can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create content, making it easier for beginners to scale their businesses.

What is the potential income from affiliate marketing, and how scalable is it?

Affiliate marketing has a high income potential, with some marketers earning $50,000 a month or more. The business model is highly scalable because it allows marketers to reach a large audience, promote multiple products, and automate various processes. Beginners can scale their businesses as they gain experience and knowledge.