I Ranked the Best Businesses to Start Before 2026

Summary

In this video, the speaker ranks 15 business ideas based on four key criteria: speed to first dollar, ease of learning, long-term profitability, and future sellability. Drawing from personal experience in building multiple successful companies, the speaker evaluates various models such as real estate, NFTs, coaching, paid ads agencies, and more. The businesses are categorized into tiers from S-tier (no-brainer, high profits) to F-tier (scammy), offering a comprehensive guide for aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the potential risks and rewards of each opportunity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Real estate is a no-brainer business to start due to its long-term profitability, tax advantages, and high leverage on capital.
• 😀 NFTs and crypto projects are currently not recommended as they are difficult to learn, unprofitable long-term, and plagued with scams.
• 😀 Paid ads agencies can be very profitable, but AI and platform tools might make them less competitive in the future.
• 😀 Coaching and online courses offer fast revenue and high profitability, though they are not easily sellable in the long run.
• 😀 AI automation agencies are a fast-growing business, with high profitability potential, though their long-term sustainability depends on AI advancements.
• 😀 YouTube channels require a lot of effort and consistency to monetize but can be very valuable if successful, making them a decent business to consider.
• 😀 Social media marketing agencies (SMMA) offer fast revenue and good profitability, but their long-term value depends on creating a productized service.
• 😀 Drop shipping is hard to succeed in due to saturation and the need for constant reinvention, making it less desirable as a business model.
• 😀 Ghostwriting offers a quick way to earn money but is limited in profitability, with no real long-term resale value.
• 😀 Day trading is a high-risk business where you can make money quickly, but it's hard to learn and usually unsellable in the long run.
• 😀 Affiliate marketing is easy to start and learn, but its long-term profitability and resale value are limited, making it a business that's worth considering with caution.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to rank various business models that one could start before 2026, based on criteria such as speed to first dollar, ease of learning, long-term profitability, and potential for the business to be bought in the future.

What are the four criteria used to rank the businesses?

The four criteria used are: 1) How quickly you can get your first dollar, 2) How hard it is to learn, 3) How profitable the business is in the long run, and 4) Whether the business is something people would buy in the future.

What is the ranking system used to evaluate businesses?

The ranking system consists of five tiers: S-tier (no-brainer, high profits, fast cash, and here to stay), A-tier (worth it but requires business knowledge), B-tier (decent but not for everyone), C-tier (could do it, but should you?), and F-tier (straight-up scammy).

Why is real estate placed in the S-tier?

Real estate is placed in the S-tier because it offers multiple advantages, such as cash flow, tax benefits, appreciating assets, and leverage on capital, making it incredibly profitable in the long term.

Why are NFTs and crypto projects considered a scam in the video?

NFTs and crypto projects are considered a scam because a large portion of the market involves unregulated securities, and many projects were essentially money grabs that resulted in losses for investors.

What makes a paid ads agency a potentially good business?

A paid ads agency is considered a good business because it allows you to make money quickly by helping clients acquire customers. It is easy to learn and can be very profitable, with the potential for young entrepreneurs to earn substantial amounts.

What concern does the speaker have about paid ads agencies in the future?

The concern is that platforms like Meta (Facebook) are developing tools that could automate the ad-buying process, reducing the need for agencies and potentially making them less competitive in the long term.

Why is online coaching and courses considered a profitable business model?

Online coaching and courses are highly profitable because they have low overhead costs and offer high margins. Once the content is created, selling courses can generate substantial revenue with minimal ongoing costs.

How does AI automation compare to online coaching in terms of future business prospects?

AI automation is considered a better business model than online coaching because it is a cutting-edge skill with high demand. AI is expected to evolve rapidly, making it a highly relevant field for the future, unlike coaching, which is more static.

Why is drop shipping ranked in the 'should you?' category?

Drop shipping is ranked in the 'should you?' category because, while it is easy to start and offers the potential for good margins, it requires constant reinvention of your product offerings and often leads to competing in a saturated market.

What challenges are associated with starting a ghostwriting business?

Ghostwriting can be difficult because it requires strong writing skills, and many ghostwriters are essentially selling their time for a fee, which may not be as profitable long-term. Additionally, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT is putting pressure on this space.

Why does the speaker not recommend starting a virtual assistant agency?

The speaker doesn't recommend starting a virtual assistant (VA) agency because the margins are low, clients can be difficult to work with, and the growing use of AI is expected to overshadow the demand for VA services in the future.

Why is affiliate marketing placed in the 'worth it' category, despite being hard to sell in the future?

Affiliate marketing is placed in the 'worth it' category because it is easy to learn and get started with, offers the potential for quick revenue, and provides valuable skills that can be applied to other business models, even though it may not be as sellable in the future.

What makes software businesses one of the best options for long-term success?

Software businesses are ranked as one of the best because they allow for subscription-based revenue models with high margins. Additionally, advancements in AI and no-code platforms make it easier to develop software, and businesses in this space are highly valuable to buyers.