Business Models

Explore 25 business models with detailed analysis on startup costs, margin potential, and risk profiles. Find the right monetization path for your opportunity.

Affiliate

SEO/content-driven. Requires patience but scales well.

Startup Cost20
Margin75
Risk45

Lead Generation

B2B friendly. Monetize per lead or per call.

Startup Cost25
Margin70
Risk40

Agency

Cashflow fast, but less scalable without process.

Startup Cost30
Margin65
Risk35

Productized Service

Clear packaging, higher scalability than pure agency.

Startup Cost30
Margin70
Risk30

Info Products

Fast to launch, brand/authority matters.

Startup Cost20
Margin80
Risk50

Coaching

High-ticket possible, depends on personal brand.

Startup Cost15
Margin75
Risk55

Community

Retention-based, needs strong niche identity.

Startup Cost25
Margin70
Risk55

Newsletter

Monetize via sponsorships, affiliate, or paid.

Startup Cost10
Margin60
Risk60

Directory

Programmatic-friendly; monetize via featured listings.

Startup Cost25
Margin55
Risk55

Marketplace

Harder to build, but can be massive.

Startup Cost60
Margin70
Risk70

Ecommerce

Ops heavy, margin depends on sourcing.

Startup Cost55
Margin55
Risk55

Dropshipping

Competitive; brand and offer matter.

Startup Cost40
Margin45
Risk75

Subscription

Great LTV; churn management required.

Startup Cost35
Margin75
Risk60

Licensing

High margins if you own valuable IP.

Startup Cost25
Margin80
Risk50

Mobile App

Distribution is the main bottleneck.

Startup Cost55
Margin65
Risk65

Micro SaaS

Even if not building SaaS now, model is relevant to evaluate.

Startup Cost45
Margin70
Risk65

B2B Services

Often higher ticket; trust and referrals matter.

Startup Cost30
Margin65
Risk35

Local Services

Strong unit economics; location-based SEO.

Startup Cost25
Margin60
Risk35

Franchise

High upfront; proven playbooks.

Startup Cost80
Margin55
Risk35

Consulting

High ticket; expertise-driven.

Startup Cost15
Margin75
Risk40

Digital Products

Low fulfillment cost; needs distribution.

Startup Cost15
Margin85
Risk55

Events

Seasonal; logistics heavy.

Startup Cost60
Margin55
Risk60

Online Course

High margin; relies on authority.

Startup Cost20
Margin80
Risk55

Job Board

Two-sided, but SEO works well for niches.

Startup Cost25
Margin65
Risk50