Marcus Gram owns Joyner Vending.
If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a business but have no ideas, look to the unexpected.
Some businesses are unique and can earn up to six figures in revenue in the first year.
These include vending-machine companies, live shopping, and website flipping.
If you’ve dreamed of creating your own business but you’re not sure where to begin, consider unconventional startups. Insider has interviewed many entrepreneurs who launched businesses that aren’t the most obvious, but can earn up to six figures within the first year.
Flipping websitesChelsea Clarke is the founder of Blogs for Sale.
Friday Eve Photo
Building and selling websites can be similar to real estate, only you’re dealing with online property. The aim is to purchase an inexpensive domain name, build a new website with useful and search-engine-optimized content, then earn passive income from ads and affiliate links. You can also choose to sell the site for a profit.
That’s what Chelsea Clarke does through her business, Blogs for Sale. In 2020, she earned $127,000 from flipping 13 websites and brokering sales for 50 more, Insider verified through documents.
Read more: Chelsea Clarke reveals 6 tips that helped her earn $127,000 last year flipping websites.
Live shoppingMimi Striplin is the owner of The Tiny Tassel in Charleston, South Carolina.
Aneris Photography
Mimi Striplin owns The Tiny Tassel, a boutique and online store based in Charleston, South Carolina. Last year, she started hosting live-shopping events on Instagram and Facebook to expand her customer base. After her first show, sales increased by nearly 50%. In 2021, her store made more than $970,000 in total sales, which Insider verified with documentation.
But you don’t have to have a storefront to sell a product online. Many sellers start livestreaming in their homes, hawking collectibles or handmade items. The live-shopping market is estimated to be worth $25 billion this year, according to Coresight Research.
Read more: How a Charleston boutique owner netted $970,000 in sales last year with Instagram and Facebook live shopping.
Glamping eventsKenny Young is the founder of Pitched Glamping, a company that delivers at-home camping experiences to people’s backyards.
Courtesy of Kenny Young
When international and domestic travel slowed during the pandemic, glamping’s popularity skyrocketed as more people turned to nearby outdoor getaways. The growth of the glamping industry is expected to continue, with experts predicting it will grow at a rate of more than 18% between 2020 and 2026.
Kenny Young decided to build a glamping business at the age of 21, after he felt burnt out from his work as a youth pastor. He was passionate about the outdoors and soon launched Pitched Glamping, delivering at-home camping experiences to people living in Arizona and Minnesota. The business made more than $125,000 in revenue in 2020, according to documentation Insider verified, and now employs seven people, including Young’s wife.
Read more: How a Minnesota youth pastor burned out, got fired, and started a 6-figure glamping business.
Virtual assistantAubree Malick, business coach and virtual assistant.
Sarah B. Photography
A recent report by remote-work-and-market analyst NanoGlobals showed that the virtual-assistant industry boomed in 2020, with 41% more assistants hired that year compared to 2019. As more companies look for contract workers to hire for short-term projects and administrative work, the industry will continue to grow, according to the financial-news company MarketWatch.
Aubree Malick quit her job as an elementary-school teacher in 2018 to build a virtual-assistant business, using her administrative skills to help companies with small tasks. In 2021, she earned $105,735 in revenue, according to documentation Insider verified. She also has her own course, called The Prep, to help other teachers and mothers become virtual assistants.
Read more: Aubree Malick left education to have more boundaries in her life and became a virtual assistant. Now, she helps other teachers do the same.
Read more: VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS: How to start your own business, create a flexible schedule, and make six figures in revenue.
