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A service business is any type of business where the owner sells their professional services. That includes home services like landscaping, creative services like graphic design, and marketing services like email marketing or optimizing for search engines.
13 service business examples
You can launch your own business as long as you know how to identify skills that you can turn into small business ideas. Here are some popular service-based business ideas to get you started.
Website designer: Use your web development skills to code websites from scratch or customize website templates and teach clients to maintain them themselves. Some web design entrepreneurs only work on sites for specific industries, like restaurant or real estate websites.
Artist: Sell your digital or physical art and merch in an online store and take commission work. Graphic designers can also launch an online portfolio to help attract new clients.
Photographer: Start a photography business selling photo packages and services, like specialized options for headshots or weddings.
Event planner: Offer planning and day-of-event services, with different levels of service and support.
Pet care: Take your pet grooming, dog walking, or animal care services full-time. Even pet-sitting and pet photography services can expand your services.
Makeup artist: Offer appointment- or event-based services for different numbers of clients. Or book appointments to teach clients to create their own makeup looks.
Accountant: Use your financial training to help individuals and other small businesses with their bookkeeping.
Consultant: You can start a consulting business for a wide range of topics, as long as you have the experience to share. You can consult on writing, business development, social media management, nutrition, or any number of specialties.
Therapist: Mental health providers who are part of a private practice or run their own practice offer a healthcare service.
Wellness provider: This category covers everything from masseuses to acupuncturists and meditation experts.
Fitness instructor or personal trainer: Teach live classes in person and via livestream or sell pre-recorded classes and workout plans.
Career coach: Have years of mentorship experience or deep experience with growing yourself on a specific career path? Share your advice with one-on-one or group coaching. Someone with a human resources background could review resumes and cover letters.
Copywriter: Apply your writing, editing, or proofreading skills to social media strategy, new websites, brand campaigns, and blog posts.
More ways to make money from a service business
You can build a successful business just by selling service packages, booking appointments, or completing some kind of custom project for your clients. For example, Acuity Scheduling offers comprehensive online scheduling software that easily integrates with your Squarespace account.
But there are other ways service providers can earn money while working with clients one-on-one.
With a Squarespace website, for example, you can:
Create a members-only subscription for exclusive art, writing, videos, or downloadables.
Sell access to video classes or a full online course while you continue to teach in-person classes or do individual client work.
Earn passive income from digital downloads like image presets, design templates, or worksheets and e-books.
Start an ecommerce store to sell branded products. Or use the storefront to recommend specific products to your clients. If the brands you recommend have an affiliate program, you can earn a small commission for client purchases.
How to choose a service business idea
Service business owners earn money from their specific knowledge and expertise. If you’re interested in starting a service-based business, start by thinking about your skills and strengths and how you could use them to help people.
To get started on a list of potential business ideas, ask yourself:
What parts of your work or hobbies do you enjoy the most?
What work or hobby do you have multiple years of experience in?
Do you enjoy helping people with a specific topic or focus area in your work?
Do you have experience with customer service and prioritizing client needs?
Do you have specific skills that could be useful to someone else, like project management?
Is this type of skill in demand?
How will your services stand out from any competitors?
Once you identify what services you want to sell, you can start to figure out who your target customers are. Then, you can decide how to differentiate your business. That might mean targeting a specific niche of your service area, like marketing yourself as a wedding planner instead of focusing on event planning more broadly. Or you could emphasize how your style or personality sets you apart from your peers.
Tips for starting a service business
It’s helpful to break your business plan into small steps. The most important first steps to take when you start a service business—after choosing your idea—are to:
List what tools or support you need to get started.
Set a budget for your startup costs and long-term expenses. This can also help with your bookkeeping down the line.
Define your services and set your rates.
Set goals, like a number of clients or financial milestones.
Build a website for your business.
Create a marketing strategy to promote your new business.
You don’t have to go full-time with your business right away. Many small business owners get started with a side hustle or start naturally as friends and colleagues ask for their help. Plus, starting smaller gives you time to experiment with your services, packages, and pricing. As your customer base grows, so can your new business.
This post was updated on October 31, 2023.