If you’re looking to make a million dollars in 2025 but you’re starting with very little, don’t worry—there are still plenty of opportunities to get started with almost no money. The key is to choose a business model that requires minimal upfront investment but offers high growth potential.
In this article, we’ll break down 10 business ideas that you can start with less than $100, showing you how even people with little to no funds can grow these ventures into multi-million dollar enterprises. Each business is ranked from good to best, with the most promising opportunities listed toward the end.
1. Growing Microgreens
Microgreens—small, edible plants like sunflower, pea shoots, and radishes—are a popular ingredient in many high-end restaurants and cafes. They add flavor, color, and nutritional value to dishes.
While microgreens are easy to grow, most local supermarkets don’t supply them fresh, which is why restaurants are often willing to pay well for them. Once you’ve set up your growing operation, it can become semi-passive, with profits flowing in daily as you deliver fresh produce to your clients.
Example: Donnie Greens turned his small-scale microgreens business into a $3,000 a week operation, working just a few hours a day. He started with less than $100, using plastic trays, seeds, and natural sunlight to grow his crops. After securing a few restaurant clients, Donnie expanded and now runs a full-fledged business.
How to Start: Buy basic supplies like seeds, trays, and soil. Within 7 to 10 days, your microgreens will be ready for harvest and sale.
2. Pressure Washing Business
Pressure washing is a service that homeowners constantly need, especially for cleaning driveways, patios, and exterior walls. It’s a booming business because most people don’t have the time or equipment to handle the job themselves.
Example: Chase, an 18-year-old, built a $150,000 per year pressure washing business in just 18 months. Starting with no experience and only basic equipment, he grew his company into a profitable venture.
How to Start: For under $100, you can find a second-hand pressure washer on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Start by offering discounts to neighbors and use word-of-mouth to grow your clientele. Once you earn enough, upgrade your equipment and expand to larger jobs.
3. Faceless YouTube Channels
If you want to build a business that can make millions of dollars while working remotely, creating a faceless YouTube channel is a great option. Thanks to advancements in AI, it’s easier than ever to produce YouTube content without ever appearing on camera.
Example: Noah Morris, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, generates $2 million per year by managing multiple faceless YouTube channels. He hires scriptwriters, voice actors, and video editors to create content, allowing him to scale effortlessly. Another example is Paul Hillzy, who makes over $100,000 a month by following the same model.
How to Start: Begin by creating content using AI tools or hire freelancers to handle the production. Focus on niches like documentaries, educational content, or commentary videos. With a small initial investment in software or freelance help, you can scale your channel and monetize it via ads and sponsorships.
4. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting products and services without having to create or manage inventory. With the rise of digital marketing, affiliate marketing can be a highly profitable business with a low startup cost.
Example: Many affiliate marketers earn six-figure incomes by promoting products in niche markets like fitness, technology, or lifestyle. They use blogs, social media, and email marketing to drive traffic to affiliate links.
How to Start: Choose a niche, create a blog or social media account, and promote relevant products. Use platforms like Amazon Associates or ClickBank to find affiliate offers. You can start with little more than a laptop and some time to create content.
5. Freelance Services
If you have a skill—whether it’s writing, graphic design, video editing, or programming—you can offer freelance services online. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer make it easy to connect with clients willing to pay for your expertise.
Example: Many freelancers earn $100,000 or more annually, depending on the demand for their services. Freelancers with specialized skills like web development, SEO, or copywriting often command high rates.
How to Start: Create a profile on freelance platforms, build a portfolio, and start bidding on jobs. Over time, you can build a steady stream of clients and raise your rates as you gain experience.
6. Online Course Creation
If you’re an expert in a particular field, creating and selling online courses is a highly scalable business. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Skillshare make it easy to create courses that can generate passive income over time.
Example: One entrepreneur made $1 million in a single year by creating a course on digital marketing. By recording content once and selling it repeatedly, he was able to scale his business without extra effort.
How to Start: Choose a topic you’re knowledgeable about, and create a structured course. Record your lessons, upload them to a course platform, and market it through your website or social media channels.
7. Print on Demand
Print on demand (POD) is a business model where you design custom products, such as t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases, and a third-party company prints and ships them when a customer places an order. This eliminates the need for inventory and upfront investment.
Example: Entrepreneurs can easily make $10,000 or more per month by selling custom-designed products through platforms like Shopify and Printful.
How to Start: Create unique designs, set up an online store, and partner with a POD company. Use social media and digital ads to promote your products and drive traffic to your store.
8. Social Media Management
Many small businesses struggle to maintain a consistent social media presence, and that’s where social media managers come in. By offering services like content creation, posting schedules, and engagement, you can earn money while helping businesses grow their online presence.
Example: A social media manager working with 10 small businesses could easily make over $100,000 per year with the right pricing and clients.
How to Start: Learn the basics of social media marketing, build a portfolio with sample posts, and start reaching out to local businesses. Offer packages for services like daily posts, engagement, and content creation.
9. E-commerce Arbitrage
E-commerce arbitrage involves buying products at a lower price from online marketplaces (like Amazon or eBay) and reselling them at a higher price on your own store. This model requires minimal upfront investment and has high scalability potential.
Example: Many e-commerce sellers make six figures by sourcing discounted products and reselling them for a profit. By constantly optimizing your sourcing strategy, you can grow your profit margins.
How to Start: Research products on marketplaces that you can sell for a profit. List those products on your own e-commerce store or platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Etsy.
10. Mobile Car Detailing
The demand for mobile car detailing services has surged in recent years. People love the convenience of having their car cleaned and detailed at their home or office, and this service can easily scale into a highly profitable business.
Example: Many mobile car detailing businesses make upwards of $10,000 a month by servicing multiple customers daily.
How to Start: Purchase basic car cleaning supplies for under $100, and start offering your services locally. With word-of-mouth and repeat business, you can grow your client base quickly and expand to multiple vehicles each day.
Conclusion
Making a million dollars in 2025 is definitely possible, even if you’re starting with little to no money. The key is to choose the right business model that fits your skills, passions, and resources. Whether it’s growing microgreens, starting a pressure washing service, or creating a faceless YouTube channel, there are countless opportunities to get started with just $100 or less.
Take the time to choose a business, put in the work, and scale it steadily. Success won’t come overnight, but with dedication and the right strategy, you could be on your way to building a million-dollar business in 2025!
