Automation is revolutionizing the business world, allowing entrepreneurs to scale their businesses while reducing manual effort. Whether looking for a side hustle or a full-fledged business, automating key processes can help you save time, boost efficiency, and generate passive income. Here are 30 businesses you can automate today, along with steps to get started, costs, what is required, and the pros and cons of each.
E-Commerce & Dropshipping
- Dropshipping Store – A Business You Can Automate. Start by selecting a niche, setting up a Shopify store, and utilizing dropshipping apps like Oberlo or Spocket to automate product sourcing and fulfillment.
- Cost to start: $100-$500 (Shopify subscription, domain, marketing)
- Requirements: Shopify account, supplier partnerships, marketing strategy
- Pros: Low startup costs, no need to manage inventory
- Cons: High competition, lower profit margins
- Print-on-Demand Store – A Business You Can Automate. Create custom designs, list them on platforms like Printify or Printful, and connect with Shopify or Etsy for automated order processing.
- Cost to start: $100-$300 (Design tools, store setup)
- Requirements: Design software, store platform, print-on-demand supplier
- Pros: No need for inventory, scalable business model
- Cons: Profit margins depend on printing costs, reliance on third-party suppliers
- Amazon FBA Business – A Business You Can Automate. Source products and send them to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, where Amazon handles storage, shipping, and customer service.
- Cost to start: $1,000-$5,000 (Inventory, Amazon fees, shipping)
- Requirements: Amazon seller account, product research, supplier contacts
- Pros: Amazon handles logistics, potential for high sales
- Cons: High competition and FBA fees can reduce profits
- Subscription Box Business – A Business You Can Automate. Curate products and use fulfillment services to automate packing and shipping.
- Cost to start: $500-$5,000 (Product sourcing, website, marketing)
- Requirements: Supplier partnerships, e-commerce platform, shipping service
- Pros: Recurring revenue, niche markets thrive
- Cons: Logistics and inventory management required
- Wholesale E-Commerce – A Business You Can Automate. Buy bulk products from manufacturers and automate orders through fulfillment centers like Amazon FBA.
- Cost to start: $1,000-$10,000 (Inventory, platform fees)
- Requirements: Supplier contacts, marketplace accounts
- Pros: High-profit margins, scalable
- Cons: Requires capital for inventory, competitive market
- Automated Digital Product Store – A Business You Can Automate. Sell templates, e-books, and online tools using platforms like Gumroad or Shopify.
- Cost to start: $0-$500 (Platform fees, website)
- Requirements: Digital products, e-commerce setup
- Pros: Fully automated, no inventory
- Cons: Initial work required to create products
Content & Media
- YouTube Automation Channel – A Business You Can Automate. Hire freelancers for scriptwriting, video editing, and voiceovers, then schedule automated uploads.
- Cost to start: $500-$2,000 (Freelancers, software, branding)
- Requirements: YouTube channel, video creation tools, automation tools
- Pros: Potential for ad revenue and sponsorships, low overhead costs
- Cons: Requires time to grow an audience, monetization rules can change
- Automated Podcasting – A Business You Can Automate. Use AI tools for editing and transcription, automate publishing, and monetize with ads.
- Cost to start: $200-$1,000 (Microphone, editing software, hosting platform)
- Requirements: Podcast hosting, automation tools, marketing strategy
- Pros: Passive income potential, minimal ongoing effort
- Cons: Competition is high, requires content consistency
- Stock Photography & Video – A Business You Can Automate. Upload photos/videos to sites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock to generate passive income.
- Cost to start: $500-$1,500 (Camera, editing software)
- Requirements: Photography skills, stock platform accounts
- Pros: No active management needed, passive revenue stream
- Cons: Need high-quality content, earnings depend on demand
- E-Book Publishing – A Business You Can Automate. Write and publish e-books on Amazon Kindle or other platforms and automate sales.
- Cost to start: $0-$500 (Writing, editing, publishing software)
- Requirements: Writing skills, publishing platform, marketing strategy
- Pros: Passive income, low startup cost
- Cons: Marketing is required to drive sales
- Online Course Creation – A Business You Can Automate. Develop a course on Udemy, Teachable, or Kajabi and automate enrollments.
- Cost to start: $300-$2,000 (Course platform, video creation)
- Requirements: Expertise in a subject, content creation tools, marketing
- Pros: High earning potential, scalable income
- Cons: Upfront work required, marketing needed
Finance & Investing
- Automated Stock Trading – Invest using AI-powered trading bots like Wealthfront or M1 Finance.
- Cost to start: $500-$5,000 (Initial investment, trading software)
- Requirements: Investment capital, knowledge of trading platforms
- Pros: Hands-off investing, the potential for high returns
- Cons: Market risks, requires initial capital
- Crypto Bot Trading – Automate crypto investments with bots like Pionex or 3Commas.
- Cost to start: $500-$2,000 (Trading bots, capital investment)
- Requirements: Cryptocurrency knowledge, bot configuration
- Pros: Works 24/7, potential for high returns
- Cons: High volatility, requires monitoring
Local & Service-Based Businesses
- Self-Service Car Wash – Invest in automated car wash machines that run with minimal supervision.
- Cost to start: $50,000-$200,000 (Land, equipment, setup)
- Requirements: Business license, location, automated car wash system
- Pros: Passive income, high demand
- Cons: High initial investment, location-dependent
- Laundromat Business – Set up a self-service laundromat with digital payment options.
- Cost to start: $50,000-$300,000 (Machines, rent, setup)
- Requirements: Business license, location, washing machines
- Pros: Steady income, minimal staffing required
- Cons: High startup costs, maintenance required
- Vending Machine Business – Use automated sales tracking to buy vending machines and stock them with snacks and drinks.
- Cost to start: $3,000-$10,000 (Machines, inventory)
- Requirements: Machines, supplier deals, location contracts
- Pros: Passive income, scalable
- Cons: Requires maintenance, location-dependent
Tech & Online Services
- AI Chatbot Business – Develop AI-powered chatbots for businesses to automate customer support.
- Cost to start: $500-$2,000 (Software, hosting)
- Requirements: No-code chatbot builders or programming knowledge
- Pros: High demand, passive income from subscriptions
- Cons: Requires marketing to get clients
- Automated Website Flipping –Business You Can Automate. Buy undervalued websites, improve SEO, and sell for profit.
- Cost to start: $1,000-$10,000 (Buying sites, hosting, SEO tools)
- Requirements: Website marketplace knowledge, SEO skills
- Pros: High return potential, passive management
- Cons: Requires patience and market research
- Automated Lead Generation – Use AI and scraping tools to collect business leads and sell them.
- Cost to start: $300-$1,500 (Lead gen software, CRM)
- Requirements: Lead generation tools, marketing skills
- Pros: Scalable, high-profit margins
- Cons: Compliance issues require a targeted approach
- Niche Subscription Newsletter – Automate premium newsletters with paid subscriptions.
- Cost to start: $0-$300 (Newsletter software, content creation)
- Requirements: Email platform, niche expertise
- Pros: Recurring revenue, minimal expenses
- Cons: Needs consistent content, audience building required
- Automated Virtual Assistant Service – Hire and manage VAs to offer automated online services.
- Cost to start: $500-$2,000 (Hiring, automation tools)
- Requirements: VA network, project management
- Pros: Passive income from outsourcing
- Cons: Requires client acquisition
- Automated Social Media Marketing Agency – Use AI tools to schedule posts and manage client accounts.
- Cost to start: $500-$3,000 (Software, marketing)
- Requirements: Social media automation tools, client acquisition
- Pros: Recurring revenue from retainers
- Cons: A competitive market, requires results
Local & Passive Income Businesses
- Self-Storage Business – Rent storage units and automate access with smart locks.
- Cost to start: $100,000+ (Land, storage setup)
- Requirements: Location, automated security systems
- Pros: Steady income, minimal oversight
- Cons: High startup costs
- Parking Lot Business – Rent out parking spaces and automate with a booking system.
- Cost to start: $50,000+ (Land, automation software)
- Requirements: Location, automated payment system
- Pros: Low maintenance, passive income
- Cons: Location-dependent
- Photo Booth Rental – Offer automated digital photo booths for events.
- Cost to start: $2,000-$10,000 (Equipment, software)
- Requirements: Photo booth machine, marketing
- Pros: High profit per event, semi-passive
- Cons: Requires bookings, transport costs
- Automated Airbnb Management – A Business You Can Automate. Use smart locks and automated systems to run Airbnb properties.
- Cost to start: $1,000-$50,000 (Property or rental agreements)
- Requirements: Airbnb account, smart automation tools
- Pros: Hands-free property management
- Cons: Dependent on location demand
Investment & Passive Income
- Automated Dividend Investing – A Business You Can Automate. Invest in dividend stocks with robo-advisors.
- Cost to start: $500+ (Investment capital)
- Requirements: Investment account, automation tools
- Pros: Long-term passive income
- Cons: Market risks
- Peer-to-Peer Lending Automation – A Business You Can Automate. Lend money through automated P2P lending platforms.
- Cost to start: $500-$10,000 (Investment capital)
- Requirements: P2P lending account
- Pros: Passive interest income
- Cons: Risk of loan defaults
- Real Estate Crowdfunding – Invest in properties through crowdfunding platforms.
- Cost to start: $1,000+ (Investment)
- Requirements: Real estate platform access
- Pros: Hands-off property investing
- Cons: Lower liquidity than stocks
- Automated Print Subscription Service – Set up a recurring subscription for exclusive print content.
- Cost to start: $500-$2,000 (Printing, shipping, automation software)
- Requirements: Content creation, fulfillment service
- Pros: Recurring revenue
- Cons: Printing and logistics costs
Final Thoughts
Automation is a game-changer for businesses, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on growth rather than repetitive tasks. While each of these businesses has its own set of pros and cons, the key to success lies in choosing a niche that aligns with your skills and interests. With the right tools and strategies, you can build a profitable, automated business that runs efficiently and scales effortlessly.
Which of these businesses are you most excited to automate? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: Costs mentioned are estimates and may vary based on location, scale, and other factors.
