Business ideas
Find business ideas from what you already have.
Lists of “top business ideas” rarely help, because the right idea depends on the person. Start from your experience, budget, situation, goals, assets or preferred model — then test the strongest option.
How do I choose a business idea?
Choose an idea where you have a credible advantage, customers have a real problem they will pay to solve, and you can test demand cheaply before committing serious money. Compare several options against the same criteria rather than choosing the most exciting.
- Credible founder advantage
- Real, paying demand
- Sensible startup and running costs
- A cheap way to test it first
Business ideas by profession
What business can I start with my experience?
Professional experience is often the strongest unfair advantage a new founder has: you understand the customer, the problems and the language of the market.
22 routes →
Business ideas by budget
What business can I start with the money I have?
Your budget is the most you could sensibly put at risk — not a figure you should spend. Many businesses can be tested with far less than the full build would cost.
6 routes →
Business ideas by industry
Which industries could I start a business in?
Industry matters because it sets the customer, the competition, the regulation and the economics. Knowing an industry from the inside is usually worth more than choosing one because it looks attractive from outside.
12 routes →
Business ideas by circumstance
What business suits my situation?
Circumstances shape which businesses are realistic: how much time you have, when you can work, whether you can take risk and whether you are starting alone.
9 routes →
Business ideas by objective
What kind of business fits what I want to achieve?
Different objectives point to different businesses. A business designed to replace a salary looks very different from one designed to scale or to run with low overheads.
11 routes →
Business ideas by assets
What do you already have that could form the basis of a business?
Many good businesses start from something the founder already has — equipment, space, contacts or know-how — rather than from a blank page.
14 routes →
Business ideas by business model
Which business model should I choose?
The business model decides how you make money: who pays, how often, at what margin and how much of your time each sale needs.
14 routes →
Already running a business and looking for a new revenue stream? That is Channel Creation, not Start a Business.
Find a guide
Search the business ideas library.
Every guide explains who buys, how the business makes money, what it takes to test and when it is a poor fit.
162 guides
By budget
Business ideas with £100,000
By budget
Business ideas with £20,000–£25,000
By budget
Business ideas with £50,000
By circumstance
What business can I start after leaving a corporate career?
By circumstance
Business Ideas After Redundancy
By business model
Agency business ideas
By industry
AI business ideas that are commercially plausible
By business model
AI and automation service business ideas
By profession
Business ideas for AI and machine-learning professionals
By objective
Businesses where AI can improve delivery
By profession
Business ideas for architects
By assets
Business ideas if you already have an audience
By objective
Businesses with both B2B and B2C potential
By objective
B2B business ideas
By business model
B2B service business ideas
By business model
B2C service business ideas
By profession
Business ideas for bookkeepers
By circumstance
Business ideas for people who want to build a team
By profession
Business ideas for builders
By industry
Business opportunities in building products
By profession
Business ideas for business development professionals
By circumstance
Business ideas for two business partners
By profession
Business ideas for CAD designers and technicians
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Business ideas for people changing career
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Business ideas for carpenters and joiners
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Business ideas for chefs
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Business ideas for commercial interior professionals
By assets
Business ideas using commercial kitchen space
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Business ideas for commercial managers
By business model
Commercial service business ideas
By industry
Business opportunities in commercial services
By assets
Business ideas using property or commercial space
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Business opportunities in construction
By profession
What business can I start with construction management experience?
By profession
Business ideas for construction professionals
By business model
Consultancy business ideas
By profession
What business can I start as a content creator?
By objective
Business Ideas for Building Contract Revenue
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Business ideas for couples starting together
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Business opportunities in the creative industries
By profession
Business ideas for people with customer-service experience
By industry
Business opportunities in cybersecurity
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Business ideas for cybersecurity professionals
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Business ideas for data professionals
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Business ideas for painters and decorators
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Business ideas for digital marketers
By business model
Distribution business ideas and models
By profession
What business can I start with e-commerce experience?
By business model
What ecommerce business should I start?
By industry
Business ideas for ecommerce professionals
By profession
Business ideas for electrical engineers
By profession
What business can I start with electrical experience?
By industry
Business opportunities in engineering
By profession
Business ideas for engineers who want to work for themselves
By profession
What business can I start as an estate agent?
By profession
What business can I start with estimating experience?
By circumstance
Business ideas for experienced mid-career professionals
By objective
Business Ideas Based on Deep Expertise
By industry
Business ideas for facilities management professionals
By profession
What business can I start with facilities management experience?
Showing 60 — narrow your search to see more.