20 profitable part-time business ideas

(Last Updated On: December 19, 2023)

Diving into part-time business ideas is like unlocking a door to extra income, giving you the chance to use your skills and hobbies to make some cash on the side.

Whether you’re a student wanting some spending money, a working professional looking for a side gig, or just someone with a cool idea, part-time businesses are like your personal money-making playground.

Think freelancing, online stuff, or offering services – it’s all about finding what clicks with your interests and talents.

So, let’s explore

Part time business ideas without investment

Starting a part-time business venture without a significant initial investment is an exciting and viable option for aspiring entrepreneurs. Numerous opportunities exist that require minimal to no upfront capital, allowing individuals to explore their entrepreneurial spirit without financial constraints.

From freelancing services such as writing or graphic design to starting an online tutoring service or offering personalized consulting, the digital age has opened doors to various low-cost part-time business ideas.

Utilizing skills, creativity, and the power of online platforms, individuals can carve out successful ventures that not only align with their passions but also provide the flexibility and financial freedom associated with part-time entrepreneurship.

Advantages of part-time businesses

Accommodating other commitments: Part-time businesses provide schedule flexibility, catering to individuals with existing commitments like full-time jobs or studies. Entrepreneurs can adapt their work hours, fostering a healthier work-life balance.
Work-life balance: Part-time ventures enable individuals to maintain a healthy work-life balance by allowing control over working hours, essential in today’s fast-paced world.
Reduced initial investment: Part-time businesses require lower startup costs, reducing the financial burden on entrepreneurs. This flexibility allows testing ideas with minimal risk.
Opportunity to test the market: Part-time businesses offer a chance to test the market before committing to a full-scale operation, allowing entrepreneurs to assess viability and make informed decisions.
Learning on the job: Part-time entrepreneurs gain hands-on experience, developing practical skills such as problem-solving and adaptability.
Enhancing entrepreneurial skills: Engaging in a part-time business nurtures diverse entrepreneurial skills, from marketing to strategic planning, applicable across various domains.

Factors to consider before starting a part time business

Before you leap into part-time entrepreneurship, it’s essential to weigh key factors for success. From clarifying your motivation to navigating legalities, we’ll guide you through crucial considerations.

1. Identifying passion areas

Before starting a part-time business, reflect on your passions and interests. Choose a venture that aligns with what you love, as this will not only make the work more enjoyable but also increase your commitment to its success.

Look at the different types of businesses you can start. Mainly, you have two options based on what you offer: product-based or service-based.

a. Product-based businesses involve creating or selling tangible items.

b. While service-based businesses involve providing a service to clients or customers.

The latter will need minimal investments as compared to the former.

When considering a part-time business, it’s worth noting whether you prefer an online or offline model.

An online part-time business requires minimal resources and has a vast potential for reaching customers. If you decide to go for offline mode, we recommend you use online modes for lead generation and marketing.

Related read: How to take your offline business online

2. Leveraging existing skills

Evaluate your existing skills and expertise. Building a business around what you already know can give you a competitive edge and reduce the learning curve, increasing the likelihood of success.

3. Identifying target audience

Conduct thorough market research to identify your target audience. Understanding the needs and preferences of potential customers is essential for tailoring your product or service to meet market demands.

4. Assessing competition

Analyze the competitive landscape in your chosen industry. Identify existing competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and find a unique value proposition that sets your part-time business apart.

5. Business registration

Understand the legal requirements for starting a business in your area. Register your part-time business, obtain any necessary licenses or permits, and ensure compliance with local regulations.

6. Compliance with local laws

Be aware of and adhere to local laws and regulations governing your industry. Compliance is crucial for the sustainability and reputation of your part-time business.

7. Time commitment

Generally speaking, a part-time business can require anywhere from a 3-4 hours per week to several hours per day, depending on the scope of the business.

You need to consider if the idea fits your current schedule. Try to calculate the amount of time you can realistically dedicate to a part-time business, including the hours you need to put in for production, marketing, packaging, and customer support. Choose an idea that aligns with the amount of time you are ready to commit.

Make sure the idea does not interfere with the current job you are doing or other responsibilities you have.

Remember, whichever business you start, you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone and learn new things to run your business.

8. Financial resources

Starting a business will definitely take some amount of investment, even if it is part-time. Before you settle on a business idea, determine the cost of setting up: equipment, supplies, marketing expenses, and any other costs. Create a realistic budget and decide if you can afford the expenses.

You can start a side hustle with little to no investment. In the next sections, we’ll talk about part-time business ideas that you can start immediately without high costs.

Best part-time business ideas in India

We have sorted the list of business ideas into two groups: Product-based and service-based. Moreover, the folloiwng are the best suited part time business ideas for students as well.

Here comes the first type of businesses which involve selling physical items. We’ll explore a range of products that you can sell and offer a flexible way to earn extra income while pursuing your interests.

Handmade crafts and decor

Many hobbyists started small businesses out of what they’re interested in making. This can be anything from crafting and painting to carpentry and knitting. They can serve as a foundation for many excellent part-time business ideas.

The best aspect of starting a handmade business is that it will be much easier to stand out as compared to selling mass-manufactured products.

Many business owners build their brand around values such as sustainability and supporting traditional crafts.

Create your home decor store today

An example of this is Oddtrunk, a handmade home decor business. They sell adorable fridge magnets and other unique crafts on their Instamojo online store:

part time business idea - handmade products business

T-shirt business

Selling t-shirts online can be a profitable and affordable part-time business idea, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. The best way to start is to decide which niche you want to focus on: hobbies, jobs, movies, etc.

You can go all in and start a t-shirt business with all equipment like a printer, but you can also make it low-cost by sourcing t-shirts or giving orders to a print-on-demand business.

Check out this cool shop on Instamojo called YoungTees. They’ve got a special focus on making custom baby rompers and kids’ T-shirts with adorable prints. And guess what? They use the finest, softest cotton fabrics for their awesome collection!

To know more about selling t-shirts online, here’s a blog to get you started.

Set your online T-shirt store here

Home-made food

Starting a part-time business around homemade food can be a great idea, especially if you have a passion for cooking. This is a great idea if you live in the city where lots of working professionals and students stay. You can start an on-demand tiffin service.

Related read: How to sell food online in India

Introducing The Cinnamon Kitchen, a homemade food store on Instamojo that’s worth checking out. They craft all their TCK products with clean, wholesome, top-notch ingredients for a super healthy and delicious experience. Their approach involves handmade, small-batch production, infused with lots of love and care. It’s all about promoting mindful eating in the hustle and bustle of today’s fast-paced life!

Once you decide on what type of food you want to sell, create a menu and start a group on channels like WhatsApp and Telegram. Those who are in need of your services can easily contact you and you can get it delivered.

Sell food from your own online store

Natural skincare products

With the proper skills, you can make natural skin and hair care products at home and sell it under your label. This is a great part-time business idea because it’s a niche that is gaining popularity.

One Pour Tree, a homemade skincare brand started by Fizaah Fayaaz from her home caters to the conscious customer. She marketed her business by creating awareness on the ingredients used in wellness products. Read more about her story here.

handmade soaps store - part time business ideas

Start your own online store

Scented candles

Scented candles have been gaining popularity recently, especially during the holiday season. If you have a passion for making things, scented candles is a great product. You can find candle-making tutorials on YouTube or take a course on platforms like Skillshare.

Selling candles can be relatively low cost compared to other types of businesses and the products have a longer shelf life. All you need is a good quality candle-making kit, aroma oils, containers, colours, and packaging materials to get started.

Ebooks

Creating and selling ebooks has minimal overhead costs and can also be a good source of passive income, making it a great part-time business idea. You also won’t have to worry about shipping or fulfiment, allowing you to have a customer base across the world.

You can write ebooks based on your expertise and design them using tools like Canva. Once the ebooks are ready, you can put them out on an online store or any other platforms you prefer and start making money. This means that selling ebooks online is also a low-cost business idea.

Check Instamojo free ebooks

Grammar Ganga sells ebooks and other digital content about spoken English on the Instamojo online store.

grammar ganga online store for english teaching

Thrifting business

If you like combing through thrift stores in your local stores, this is a great part time business idea. Many people love to shop upcycled clothes, but don’t want to take the trouble of digging through old stuff to get what they need.

You can start a thrift store online by collecting the best thrifted items from local thrift markets and setting up categories. This will let shoppers find what they need easily. Position yourself as a trustworthy curator who can find hidden gems and present amazing vintage pieces for others

Carols shop on Instgarm sells vintage clothing and accessories. They have a unique curation of upcycled products.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Dog Pile Thrift (@thedogpilethrift)

You can learn more about how to start an online thrift store with this guide.

Here comes another type of businesses you can start by offering services part-time. You can choose both offline and online modes. They have lower costs as compared to product-based ideas. Some of these will require professional-level skills.

Freelance

Freelancing is a great way to earn some money on the side without spending a lot of hours

There are many services you can offer as a freelancer, based on your skillsets. The most popular ones include writing, marketing, graphic designing, and coding.

To start as a part-time freelancer, you will need to find clients. You can do this via cold pitching or through freelance platforms like Upwork.

With practice, the right skills, and good clients, you can earn good money as a freelancer because you can have a client base based in abroad, making your earning potential greater.

Coaching

If you have good experience in your field of work, you can make a considerable amount of money by offering coaching classes and consultation. For example, if you know how to speak English well, you can offer spoken English classes.

Other popular coaching businesses include life coach, motivation coaching, and career guidance coaching.

This is a great part-time business idea if you have expert-level knowledge on a subject and are confident that you can provide mentorship and actionable tips. You will have to build credibility online as an expert in your field and create a community to start a successful coaching business.

LiveFromALounge is a blog that help people know more about the miles program benefits. They host the MileageMentor masterclass regularly to help people know about the best ways to maximise flyer miles and credit rewards with the help of a landing page created with Instamojo.

mileage mentor landing page

Start your online coaching website

Event planner

Do you have a creative flair and love organizing activities? Event and party planning can be the right part-time business idea for you.

As an event planner, your job would be to plan and coordinate events ranging from birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, gender reveal parties, and even corporate events. Once you get a few clients, you can use the photos from those events to capture your next clients.

Event planning is a business idea that you can start by yourself and then gradually turn into a full-scale business with a team.

Looking to start a part-time service business? Start getting clients and collect payments easily with the help of Instamojo Smart Pages. You get a professional landing page where you can showcase your services, portfolio, and testimonials.

Interior designing

To start an interior business, you will need to have a string background or education in design principles and material selection. Consider taking courses online and working under a mentor to gain experience.

You can get started as a part-time interior designer by taking on small projects from family and friends, and build your portfolio.

Henna artist

Henna is an inevitable part of Indian weddings. So, if you have a talent of making beautiful henna designs, this is a great part-time business idea! Most weddings are on weekends and in the evenings.

With such a time frame, you can easily make henna art your side hustle. Collect bookings from friends and famile. Also get on social media to get clients from around your town or city, and get business rolling.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Henna By Dua | Mehndi Artist Kochi (@henna.by.dua.____)

Social media is a great place to market your henna artist business and get clients around your locality

Pet care

Pet care can be a fulfilling and enjoyable side hustle for those who love animals and are willing to care for them. The services include dog walking, pet sitting, grooming, and training. It can be done on a flexible schedule, making it a good side hustle for those who have other commitments like a job.

What’s best is you can get your fist customer by advertising around your own neighbourhood. This makes pet care a flexible and enjoyable source of income.

Online tuition

Online tuition is gaining popularity in today’s digital age where remote learning is becoming more common. It allows you to get students from anywhere in the world. You can use video conferencing apps, online whiteboards, and educational software to deliver your lessons.

Build a strong online presence and community to get more students. You can also reach out to your network and promote your services on education forums and online marketplaces.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for each sale or lead generated through your unique affiliate link.

Start by identifying a niche or industry you are passionate about. Build a blog, website, or social media presence to share valuable content related to that niche.

Partner with affiliate programs and strategically integrate affiliate links into your content. As your audience grows, so does your potential for earning commissions.

Popular affiliate programs include Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and ShareASale.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an eCommerce model where you sell products without holding any inventory. Instead, you partner with suppliers who handle inventory and fulfillment.

Create an online store using platforms like Instamojo. Select products from suppliers, set your prices, and market your store.

When a customer makes a purchase, the product is shipped directly from the supplier to the customer.

Focus on marketing, customer service, and building a brand. Popular dropshipping niches include fashion, electronics, and home decor.

Print on demand

Print on demand allows you to create and sell custom-designed products without the need for inventory. Design graphics for apparel, mugs, phone cases, or other items.

Partner with print on demand services such as Printrove, Qikink, or Blinkstore. When a customer places an order, the product is printed and shipped on demand.

This model minimizes upfront costs and allows for a wide range of product offerings. Market your unique designs through your own online store.

Social media expert

Leverage your social media expertise to help businesses enhance their online presence. Offer services such as content creation, scheduling, and engagement.

Develop a comprehensive social media strategy tailored to each client’s goals and target audience. Stay informed about trends and algorithm changes on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Showcase your skills through a professional portfolio and testimonials. Networking and word-of-mouth recommendations can play a crucial role in growing your social media consulting business.

Grooming services

If you have a passion for grooming, consider offering services for pets or individuals. For pet grooming, set up a small home-based salon or offer mobile grooming services.

Stay updated on grooming techniques and pet care trends. If you’re interested in human grooming, offer hairstyling or makeup services.

Build a client base through word of mouth, local advertising, and social media. Provide a personalized and comfortable experience to ensure repeat business and positive reviews.

Customized gifting

Create a business that specializes in personalized and customized gifts for various occasions. Offer a range of options such as custom artwork, engraved items, or unique gift baskets.

Set up an online store showcasing your products and provide a user-friendly ordering process. Market your business through social media, collaborate with local event planners, and attend craft fairs or markets.

Focus on delivering high-quality, unique, and thoughtful gifts that stand out in the market.

Tips for managing a part-time business

Effectively managing a part-time business is crucial for success, balancing work commitments with personal life. Here are key tips to ensure smooth operations and sustainable growth:

Setting realistic goals: Define clear and achievable goals for your part-time business. Break them down into smaller tasks, making it easier to prioritize and manage your time effectively.
Creating a schedule: Establish a dedicated schedule for your part-time business. Allocate specific time slots for tasks like product development, customer communication, and marketing. Consistency in your routine fosters productivity.
Budgeting: Develop a realistic budget for your part-time business, outlining income and expenses. Regularly review and adjust the budget as needed to ensure financial stability.
Tracking expenses: Keep a detailed record of all business-related expenses. This practice not only helps in tax preparation but also provides insights into where you can cut costs or allocate resources more efficiently.
Utilizing social media: Leverage social media platforms to promote your part-time business. Engage with your audience, share updates, and use targeted advertising to reach potential customers.
Joining local business networks: Participate in local business networks or online communities relevant to your industry. Networking provides opportunities to exchange ideas, collaborate with other entrepreneurs, and potentially gain new clients.

Go part-time and gain extra income with Instamojo

Unlock the potential for extra income by going part-time with Instamojo. Whether you’re a freelancer, student, or someone with a passion project, Instamojo provides a user-friendly platform to effortlessly set up your online eCommerce website.

From selling digital products, offering services, or even collecting payments for your skills, Instamojo empowers you to monetize your talents. With its seamless payment gateway and tools for creating online stores, invoicing, and more, Instamojo makes it easy to turn your part-time endeavors into a lucrative venture.

Take control of your financial journey with Instamojo and embrace the flexibility of earning extra income on your terms.

Start your online business

20 profitable part time business ideas: Turn your spare time into cash