Ideas

Use the Idea Generator worksheet to develop your next business concept, or browse our collection of example business ideas for inspiration.

A guided worksheet to help you discover and refine your next business idea.

Part 1: Find a Customer

  • Who are the people you, your friends, or your family interact with most often? (e.g., students, teachers, doctors, real estate agents, dentists, etc)
  • What social circles or communities do you, your family, or your friends belong to? (e.g., churches, sports teams, clubs, volunteer organizations)
  • What are the characteristics, values, and goals shared by each of these subsets of people?

Part 2: Find a Pain

  • What are the biggest struggles or frustrations this group of people consistently complains about?
  • What tasks or activities cost them the most time, money, or peace of mind?
  • What problem, if solved, would make their lives significantly better?

Part 3: Create a Solution

  • What are the current ways people try to solve this problem? Why are those solutions not good enough?
  • What new technology (e.g., AI, drones, 3D printing, etc) could offer a completely new way to solve this?
  • What unique partnerships could you form with another business, nonprofit, or institution to create and distribute your solution?

Part 4: Make a Profit

  • How would your customer ideally want to pay for this solution? (e.g., one-time fee, monthly subscription, pay-per-use)
  • What is the real value of your solution? How much would someone be willing to pay to make this pain go away?
  • What would it cost you to deliver this solution, and what level of opportunity exists to turn a profit?

Novel and profitable business ideas to spark your imagination.

  1. Develop an AI-powered tool that summarizes long academic papers for students and researchers.
  2. Create a service that produces high-quality, short-form video content for local businesses' social media.
  3. Build a platform that connects student artists with clients seeking custom digital portraits and graphics.
  4. Offer a subscription box that delivers ethically sourced, artisanal coffee from Christian-owned roasters.
  5. Launch a service that uses 3D printing to create custom assistive devices for people with disabilities.
  6. Create a niche dropshipping store focused on sustainable and eco-friendly home goods.
  7. Develop a mobile app that gamifies personal finance education for teenagers.
  8. Offer personalized college application coaching focused on storytelling and personal branding.
  9. Start a service that digitizes old family photos and home videos into a modern, cloud-based library.
  10. Build a marketplace for upcycled and redesigned fashion from second-hand clothing.
  11. Provide tech setup and IT support services specifically for senior citizens in your community.
  12. Create a platform that offers virtual language tutoring with a focus on conversational fluency.
  13. Launch a specialized social media management service for authors and public speakers.
  14. Develop an AI-driven tool that helps non-profits optimize their grant applications.
  15. Offer a service that creates professional podcast intro/outro music and provides audio editing.
  16. Curate and sell themed gift boxes that exclusively feature products from local small businesses.
  17. Build a tool that helps fantasy sports players make data-driven decisions using predictive analytics.
  18. Create a service that plans and executes bespoke, surprise travel itineraries for adventurous clients.
  19. Develop a platform that connects skilled trade apprentices with experienced mentors and job opportunities.
  20. Offer a drone-based service for real estate photography and aerial property inspections.
  21. Launch a premium newsletter that provides deep analysis on a specific niche industry (e.g., biotech, fintech).
  22. Create a service that builds and manages simple, elegant websites for local service-based businesses.
  23. Develop a tool that helps content creators repurpose their long-form content into multiple formats.
  24. Start a business that installs and configures smart home security systems for families.
  25. Offer a consulting service that helps small e-commerce brands optimize their packaging and shipping logistics.
  26. Build a platform that connects busy parents with vetted, reliable high school students for babysitting and tutoring.
  27. Create a meal-prep delivery service that caters to specific dietary needs like keto, vegan, or gluten-free.