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-themed ecommerce (gym / fandom) Run an ecommerce brand themed around a specific audience interest (gyms, fandoms, sports), monetized via apparel and accessories. | Ecommerce & Products | 15 videos · 153 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Utility iPhone / iOS apps Build small paid or ad-supported utility iOS apps (calculators, scanners, QR tools) on a portfolio basis, monetized via App Store sales and… | SaaS & Software | 15 videos · 155 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| YouTube-driven digital products Build a YouTube channel that drives traffic to a digital product (course, template, ebook) sold via Gumroad or Kajabi. | Info Products & Education | 15 videos · 157 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Bootstrapped personal finance media Build a personal-finance newsletter or site without ads, monetized via premium memberships and info products. | Content & Media | 14 videos · 143 channels | 3 channelsGreg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Boutique fitness studio Open a boutique fitness studio (Pilates, cycling, barre) monetized via memberships and classes. | Local Services | 14 videos · 143 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Directory + lead-gen sites Build a vertical directory that ranks for service keywords and monetizes via lead fees to listed providers. | Marketplaces & Communities | 14 videos · 145 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, Side Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Faceless YouTube channel Run a YouTube channel that publishes videos without showing the creator, monetized via ads and affiliate links. | Content & Media | 14 videos · 146 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Pat Flynn, Side Hustle School | |
| Open-source SaaS with paid hosted tiers Build an open-source developer tool with a self-hosted free version and a paid managed cloud version. | SaaS & Software | 14 videos · 144 channels | 4 channelsStarter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Plugin / extension marketplace Build a marketplace where developers list paid plugins/extensions for a popular platform (Shopify, WordPress, etc). | Marketplaces & Communities | 14 videos · 145 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Buying cash-flowing lifestyle businesses Acquire profitable lifestyle businesses that the owner is tired of running, monetize via cash flow and exit. | Buying Businesses | 13 videos · 137 channels | 7 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Acquiring Minds, Indie Hackers | |
| Live shopping marketplace Build a marketplace where sellers livestream product demonstrations and viewers buy in real time. | Marketplaces & Communities | 13 videos · 135 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Pat Flynn | |
| Local services roll-up Acquire multiple small local service businesses (HVAC, plumbing, landscaping) and roll them up under one operator. | Buying Businesses | 13 videos · 134 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Noah Kagan, Acquiring Minds | |
| Paid-ads mobile app / studio Build and run mobile apps with paid user acquisition campaigns, monetized via ads, IAP, or subscriptions. | Ecommerce & Products | 13 videos · 134 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, Side Hustle School | |
| RV park investing / acquisition Acquire and operate RV parks and campgrounds, monetized via nightly site rentals and long-term pad leases. | Real Estate | 13 videos · 132 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Trend-spotting SaaS / WGSN-style Build a SaaS that monitors trend data (runway, search, social) and surfaces emerging trends to retailers and brands. | SaaS & Software | 13 videos · 133 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| AI email tool (Cursor for email) Build an AI-native email client or assistant that drafts replies, triages, and schedules from natural language prompts. | AI & Automation | 12 videos · 123 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Automated customer support SaaS Sell an AI customer-support agent that handles tier-1 tickets and escalates to humans, billed per ticket or seat. | AI & Automation | 12 videos · 126 channels | 6 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Codie Sanchez | |
| Autonomous browser-use agent / RPA Build or deploy browser-controlling agents that automate web workflows (form filling, scraping, data entry) for businesses. | AI & Automation | 12 videos · 122 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg | |
| Local newsletter media business Run a free or paid email newsletter covering a city or neighborhood with local news, events, and deals, monetized via ads and sponsorships. | Content & Media | 12 videos · 124 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Meditation / wellness app Build a meditation, breathwork, or sleep app with curated content, monetized via freemium subscription. | SaaS & Software | 12 videos · 124 channels | 4 channelsStarter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Niche news aggregation app Build a news aggregation app for a niche (crypto, real estate, sports) monetized via ads and subscriptions. | Content & Media | 12 videos · 124 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Niche research database / paid reports Curate proprietary data on a niche (startup deals, real estate comps, M&A) into a paid database accessed via subscription. | Info Products & Education | 12 videos · 124 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Premium health products brand Launch a premium-priced health and wellness brand (baby health, longevity, IV therapy) sold DTC. | Ecommerce & Products | 12 videos · 124 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Vertical AI writing assistant Build an AI writing tool tuned for one niche (real estate listings, ad copy, legal documents) sold via subscription. | AI & Automation | 12 videos · 123 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Consumer brand roll-up Acquire multiple small DTC or CPG brands and operate them under a shared platform for shared services and exits. | Buying Businesses | 11 videos · 111 channels | 1 channelMy First Million | |
| Decentralised marketplace / platform co-op Build a marketplace or platform owned cooperatively by its users, monetized via fees or token economics. | Marketplaces & Communities | 11 videos · 112 channels | 2 channelsGreg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| DTC telehealth / consumer health brand Build a DTC telehealth brand that offers consultations and prescription or OTC products for a specific condition (hair loss, ED, skin) on… | Ecommerce & Products | 11 videos · 113 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| LinkedIn growth tool Build a SaaS that helps professionals grow their LinkedIn audience with content scheduling, analytics, and lead capture. | SaaS & Software | 11 videos · 115 channels | 5 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Pat Flynn | |
| Niche TikTok channel Run a single-topic TikTok channel, monetized via TikTok creator rewards, sponsorships, and affiliate links. | Content & Media | 11 videos · 113 channels | 3 channelsGreg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Search-fund small business acquisition Raise a search fund to find, acquire, and operate a single small business with $1M-$5M EBITDA, monetized via long-term cash flow and exit. | Buying Businesses | 11 videos · 113 channels | 3 channelsGreg Isenberg, My First Million, Acquiring Minds |