Stage 3
Build an asset
Software, content sites and channels, digital products, newsletters, marketplaces, or buying a small business. Slower to start and less certain, but the upside is not capped by your time.
Business ideas for this stage
| Business idea | Category | Videos | Sources | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niche content site Run an SEO-driven content site focused on one narrow topic, monetized via ads, affiliates, or info products. | Content & Media | 143 videos · 1437 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, MicroConf, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| DTC ecommerce brand Launch and scale a direct-to-consumer ecommerce brand on Shopify, monetized via online sales to consumers. | Ecommerce & Products | 141 videos · 14111 channels | 11 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Codie Sanchez, Pat Flynn, Mark Tilbury, Acquiring Minds, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Online course business Create and sell an online course in your area of expertise, monetized via one-time or cohort-based pricing. | Info Products & Education | 111 videos · 1118 channels | 8 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Bootstrapped micro-SaaS portfolio Run one or more small, niche SaaS products built and marketed solo, monetized via monthly subscriptions. | SaaS & Software | 103 videos · 1037 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, MicroConf, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Side-hustle ideas media channel Run a YouTube, newsletter, or TikTok channel that documents side-hustle case studies and ideas, monetized via ads and affiliates. | Content & Media | 68 videos · 685 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, My First Million, Mark Tilbury, Side Hustle School | |
| Niche affiliate SEO site Build an SEO-driven review and comparison site in a niche that ranks for buyer-intent keywords and earns affiliate commissions. | Content & Media | 65 videos · 659 channels | 9 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Pat Flynn, MicroConf, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Small business acquisition (no experience required) Buy a small, profitable, owner-operated business using SBA loans or seller notes and operate it. | Buying Businesses | 59 videos · 5910 channels | 10 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Codie Sanchez, Mark Tilbury, Acquiring Minds, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| SaaS tools for content creators Build a SaaS that solves a workflow problem for YouTubers, podcasters, or creators, monetized via monthly subscription. | SaaS & Software | 54 videos · 546 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Vibe-coded app launch / 14-day MVP Use LLMs and AI tooling to ship a viable MVP in 14 days, then market and monetize the app via subscription or ads. | SaaS & Software | 48 videos · 485 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Creator-led ecommerce brand Launch an ecommerce brand powered by a creator's audience, monetized via product sales. | Ecommerce & Products | 47 videos · 476 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School | |
| Subscription box ecommerce Run a curated subscription box in a niche (snacks, beauty, pet), monetized via monthly recurring revenue. | Ecommerce & Products | 47 videos · 475 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Codie Sanchez, Side Hustle School | |
| AI productivity tool Build an AI productivity tool (writing, scheduling, research) sold per seat to knowledge workers. | AI & Automation | 46 videos · 467 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Codie Sanchez, MicroConf, Indie Hackers | |
| Vertical SaaS for a specific industry Build a SaaS that serves one narrow industry (dentists, tow yards, campgrounds) end-to-end, monetized via per-seat subscription. | SaaS & Software | 44 videos · 448 channels | 8 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Acquiring Minds, MicroConf, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Niche podcast Run a single niche podcast in a specific vertical, monetized via host-read ads, memberships, and events. | Content & Media | 43 videos · 438 channels | 8 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Niche community media brand Build a media company anchored in a niche community (e.g., pro pickleball) with editorial, events, and commerce. | Content & Media | 37 videos · 376 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Side Hustle School | |
| Paid niche newsletter Run a paid email newsletter (Substack, Beehiiv) for a narrow professional niche, monetized via subscriptions. | Content & Media | 37 videos · 377 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Codie Sanchez, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Mini-tools strategy / portfolio Operate a portfolio of small single-purpose SaaS tools that each earn a little, monetized via ads and freemium. | SaaS & Software | 35 videos · 355 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Newsletter as a media business Build a daily or weekly newsletter into a full media property with ads, events, and a community, monetized via ads and paid tiers. | Content & Media | 35 videos · 357 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Codie Sanchez, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Community-first brand Build a consumer brand whose primary moat is an owned community (Discord, IRL events), monetized via product sales. | Marketplaces & Communities | 34 videos · 346 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Vertical commerce brand Build a DTC brand focused on one specific consumer vertical (hair loss, fiber supplements, pet longevity) sold online. | Ecommerce & Products | 34 videos · 345 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| AI virtual employee / agent-as-a-service for SMBs Provide SMBs with a configured AI agent (receptionist, scheduler, support, ops) on a monthly subscription that performs a specific role. | AI & Automation | 29 videos · 294 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Novelty digital products Build small novelty digital products (Notion templates, Figma kits, prompt packs, swipe files) sold via Gumroad. | Info Products & Education | 29 videos · 298 channels | 8 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Boring CPG brand Launch a CPG brand in a mundane category (paper towels, soap, snacks) sold at a premium with strong positioning. | Ecommerce & Products | 27 videos · 275 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Trend forecasting service / newsletter Run a paid newsletter or research service that forecasts consumer, retail, and tech trends for brands and investors. | Info Products & Education | 27 videos · 274 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Personal-problem productisation Take a personal pain point (event invites, brunch planning, parenting) and turn it into a consumer product. | SaaS & Software | 25 videos · 253 channels | 3 channelsStarter Story, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Zero-down business acquisition Acquire a small business using seller financing, SBA loans, or sweat equity with little or no capital down. | Buying Businesses | 24 videos · 245 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Codie Sanchez, Acquiring Minds | |
| DTC beverage brand Launch a DTC beverage brand (energy, hydration, coffee, soda) sold primarily online and through DTC subscriptions. | Ecommerce & Products | 23 videos · 235 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Side Hustle School | |
| Niche YouTube channel Run a single-topic YouTube channel (dentists, science, fitness) monetized via ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. | Content & Media | 23 videos · 236 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School | |
| Personal finance media site Build a personal finance blog or media site that covers money, taxes, and investing for a niche audience. | Content & Media | 23 videos · 235 channels | 5 channelsStarter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Side Hustle School | |
| Vertical AI agents (specialty) Build AI agents tuned to a specific vertical (real estate, legal, dental) that perform a single job end-to-end. | AI & Automation | 23 videos · 234 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million |