25 of the Best Creative Business Ideas This Year

If you’re crafty, put your skills to work and turn a profit.Sell your products on Etsy or your local farmer’s market, craft shows, neighborhood shops and more.

From farmhouse-style décor to knitted items, here are a few items you might consider making:

• Magnets
• Coasters
• Wreaths
• Pillows
• Quilts
• Baby blankets
• Note cards
• Wall hangings
• Key holders
• Stuffed animals

Recruiter.com estimates that craft artists can earn between $21,630 and $59,620 annually.

Candles make great gifts, whether for yourself or someone else. Make quality scented or uniquely shaped candles. Approach a few boutiques and see if they’d be interested in selling them. 

Consider handing out samples to local massage therapists and beauty salons to garner interest in your products. Get an online store going too.

Candlemakers average around $37,170 annually, according to Nov. 2022 data from Glassdoor.

If you take a do-it-yourself approach to your beauty regimen, why not try to build a business with your skills? For example, consider an all-natural or aromatherapy line of bar soaps, scented bath milk, scrubs and more. 

Research what ingredients would cost versus the potential profit to get a clearer picture of the revenue you could generate.

The Economic Research Institute notes that the average salary of a soap maker is just over $27,150.

This creative arts business idea is great for crafty individuals with an eye for good design. 

Whether you create fashion-forward earrings, eco-friendly bracelets and necklaces or high-quality costume jewelry, you could make a name for yourself and earn a living doing something you enjoy. 

A Nov. 2022 report from Glassdoor indicates that jewelry makers earn $35,800 per year on average.

With more and more people working from home, many are revamping their spaces. If your organization skills could land you on an HGTV episode, consider this creative business to start.

While most of your clients will likely want you to organize their homes, you could also market your services to commercial clients looking to better organize office spaces.

According to Nov. 2022 data from ZipRecruiter, professional home organizers average about $48,900 annually.

Do you have a knack for color palettes and fabrics? Know how to arrange a room just right? Market your services as a home decorator. Build a portfolio of work samples by volunteering to redecorate the homes of family and friends. 

On average, interior decorators earn roughly $42,210.

If you’ve always been one to throw a party that people remember, consider transitioning to professional event planning, another creative idea for starting your own business. Work your creative juices as you plan weddings, business meetings, coming-of-age parties and more. 

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that event, meeting and convention planners earn a median annual wage of $49,470. Additionally, the BLS notes that work in this field is expected to grow at a much faster-than-average pace. 

If you have artistic ability with the right software and hardware, consider starting a 3D printing business. Professionals in this field forge items by converting digital designs into physical objects with the use of a specialized printer.

According to Salary.com, 3D printing technicians typically earn between roughly $34,830 and $48,400.

Do you have WordPress, user experience design or website design experience? If so, work independently. Start your own web design business and freelance. Help clients build websites from scratch or improve the ones they have. 

PayScale data shows that the average web designer’s salary is just shy of $52,660.

Over the course of their careers, most creatives develop skills or expertise in their niche. With all this knowledge and practical wisdom, there’s a consulting opportunity, either one-to-one advising or en masse, speaking at conferences and webinars. 

Not only will you have the chance to improve small businesses, but if done right, you’ll build a nice business of your own.

ZipRecruiter data from late Nov. 2022 notes that creative consultants earn approximately $63,850 a year on average.

Business owners always think they have great ideas and insights into how they should market their company. Unfortunately, many of them don’t even know where to begin when it comes to executing their vision. 

As a digital marketing company, you can help businesses by crafting a custom strategy. Help businesses publish blogs in their brand voice, implement and track their ad campaigns, identify the best social media channels to be active on and introduce dynamic email marketing campaigns.

You could start your business with minimal investment and payroll until you get clients.

Marketing consultants average nearly $65,000, according to PayScale.

Here’s another popular role for creative entrepreneurs with technical skills. To be effective, businesses need videos that connect with their audience and look and sound good. 

They often seek out videographers and video editing professionals to ensure that their time, effort, money and message are used effectively.

Video editors earn, on average, $49,560 annually, according to PayScale reports from Nov. 2022.

Think of your favorite brand. It’s likely that the advertisements and branding materials that come to mind are successful not just because of the imagery but because of the words used. Good copywriting may seem simple, but it requires skill to promote the right image of a brand with words. 

The best copywriters can make good money for themselves working as freelancers in either a full-time or part-time capacity. Additionally, consider that this can be a successful business venture with a minimal initial investment.

Indeed notes, freelance copywriters make about $81,420 on average.

Photography is another business idea for creative people with a good eye and picture-taking skills. Much like event planners, professional photographers are highly sought-after for weddings, family photo shoots, corporate events, headshots and more. 

Professional photography equipment can be expensive, but once you have all the right tools, this creative small business idea can be profitable.

As of Nov. 18, 2022, freelance photographers earn between $38,385 and $50,610, according to Salary.com, with the average falling at just over $43,710.

Whether you have significant experience in art or just an eye for good design, graphic design can be a real money-maker using tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator or Canva. 

Human beings absorb and process visual information faster than the written word, which represents a huge opportunity for businesses to convey information quickly. 

From emails to business flyers, freelance graphic designers can establish a worthwhile business for themselves.

The average salary for graphic designers is roughly $48,030, according to Nov. 2022 data from PayScale.

If you’re artistically inclined, consider becoming an non-fungible token (NFT) artist. NFT art is an original work that is completely digital. It can take the form of written works, music, artwork or memes, to name a few. 

NFT art is available to purchase or rent, earning the artist royalties. As an NFT artist, you could work directly with companies or post your creations on marketplaces. 

According to ZipRecruiter, NFT artists in the U.S. earn about $79,000 annually.

Are you good with your hands and know how to use tools? Create wooden works of art. 

Fortunately, plenty of people who would proudly pay for a beautiful custom chair, table, decorative piece or cabinetry. 

If this type of work speaks to you, make the most of this creative entrepreneur idea. Sell your products at street fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets and build an online presence too. 

Indeed reports woodworkers in the U.S. average about $53,000.

While learning calligraphy takes practice, once you have the technique down, you could earn a living with this niche business idea for creative types. 

Take a look at the many Etsy shops and Instagram accounts showing these artists promoting their talents to  see the demand for this type of work.

Calligraphers average $61,580, with the lowest earners making $21,750 annually, according to Career Explorer.

Are you one of the best bakers you’ve ever met? Do you have a flair for cake decorating? 

If your cakes, pies and cupcakes are consistently causing friends, family members and neighbors to ask you for a baked good for their party or gathering, there’s an opportunity for you to do what you love as a way to earn money.

Baker salaries range from approximately $30,200 to $41,325, according to Nov. 2022 data from Salary.com

Another creative idea for a business startup is a pet shop. Indeed, bedazzled collars and braided leashes are items many pet owners would spend their money on. Pet clothing and handmade toys are other popular products. If you enjoy baking, consider homemade biscuits and treats too.

Start this creative business idea from your home and see where it goes. The average salary of a pet shop owner is $48,465, according to ZipRecruiter.

Another one of our best creative ideas for a business is a custom children’s wear company. Girl’s headbands and hair accessories, boutique-style clothing, bespoke infant onesies, kids cooking aprons – you get the idea. Start this business out of a home office and network locally and online to get your name out there.

To give you an idea of what you could earn, consider the average salary for a retail store owner is nearly $67,120. Additionally, the average salary for fashion designers is $83,650, according to the BLS.

Build a solid portfolio of clients by grooming pets, whether at your home, in a storefront or as a mobile service, and employ your creative skills in fun ways. Use color and sculpting techniques and show off your artistic abilities at creative grooming competitions, for example. 

Dog groomers make an average of nearly $47,440, according to Nov. 2022 data from Glassdoor.

The self-care industry is a fairly consistent one. People like to look and feel good. And if you have a knack for one or more beauty skills, put them to work for you. 

Style hair, give manicures or apply make-up. Also, teach clients how to accentuate their natural beauty and features.

Beauticians earn about $25,920 on average, according to Indeed.

Does this creative business idea for entrepreneurs sound like music to your ears? Giving music lessons is a business you can run out of your home, at your client’s home or even online. 

Music instructors earn an average of nearly $46,950, according to Glassdoor reporting from Nov. 2022.

For aspiring actors, there’s never enough rehearsal time. If you have experience with auditioning, character interpretations and advanced forms of emoting from the stage, this niche business idea for creative entrepreneurs is great for supporting school-aged actors and aspiring stars.

Acting coaches average about $55,900, according to Glassdoor.

Now that you’ve read our list of 25 creative business ideas, do you have a better sense of what entrepreneurial path you’d like to pursue? If not, this article on the fastest-growing small businesses might help you decide what new startup is right for you.