12 Education Business Ideas for the Digital Age

American visionary Horace Mann once called education the great equalizer, and this couldn’t be more true today. That’s why people often find reasons to stay in school, creating a huge captive market for businesses providing products and services related to education. 

If you’re thinking of getting into education, you’ve got more options than you might think. You could start a tutoring business or open a nursery school, offer homeschooling or sell books. Check out our list of brilliant education business ideas and start building a brighter future for you and your community!

1. Tutoring

Do you have an area of academic expertise? Maybe you’re great at math, deeply familiar with science, or obsessed with language and literature. Even if you’re not a subject expert, but simply good with children, now’s a great time to consider starting a tutoring business. 

The industry took a hit during the pandemic, but today many tutors are embracing virtual instruction and tutoring is expected to see steady growth in the years ahead. As a result, you’re now able to run a tutoring business almost entirely from home, all while helping children to learn and excel and making a good living. 

Starting a tutoring business is not terribly complicated. If you have teaching experience or some proof of your expertise, you mainly need a good computer and you can start offering your services on a variety of online platforms, like ClubZ or eTutorWorld. With a bit of marketing on social media, you should be able to attract a few clients and start building your tutoring empire.

2. Homeschooling Service

If you’re an educator or counselor looking for a new opportunity, starting a homeschool business may be the perfect venture. Homeschooling, which is legal in all 50 states, saw tremendous growth during the pandemic. The pandemic may be waning, but people’s interest in homeschooling and alternative educational arrangements is still on an upward trend because of the high cost of private schools and the wealth of learning materials available online. 

Before you can start promoting your services, you’ll need to apply for the necessary permits and licenses. The requirements may vary depending on where you set up, so it’s best to check out the local regulations. Your curriculum must also meet the state’s requirements, although it can be tailored to each child’s individual needs and your own personal philosophy on education. This allows for a lot of flexibility. To market your business, it is important that you build a network of homeschooling families. With careful planning and hard work, you can create a successful homeschool business and help educate countless children in your area.

3. Life Coaching

If you’re good at guiding other people through major changes in their lives, then you might consider life coaching. Demand for life coaching services is increasing in the US, with the number of life coaches thought to have surpassed 24,600 in 2023. 

A life coach provides counseling and helps clients explore possibilities in personal development, finances, career, relationships, and more. There is no licensing requirement for life coaching, but it’s to your advantage to obtain a certification that lets potential clients know you have training. There are many certifications you can apply for, but the most prestigious is the certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Besides training, it’s also important to have empathy for your clients. With these, your life coaching business can be truly rewarding.

4. Seminar Production

Starting your own seminar business can be a great way to share your knowledge with other people and make some money while you’re at it. Training expenditures in the US are expected to increase now that the pandemic is winding down. The market saw significant growth in the years prior to the pandemic, but declined as companies slashed their budgets.

Starting a seminar business is relatively easy if you already know your area of expertise. For example, if you are a fitness expert, you can create an event where people learn how to get in shape through advice on nutrition and exercise. You can also do a webinar if your topic does not require face-to-face training. Most of the seminars outsourced by American companies involve content creation, learning management system hosting, and instruction and facilitation. You’ll be up against some tough competition, so you should have the patience and perseverance to build a successful business.

5. Bookstore

Do you love reading? If so, opening your own bookshop could be a great way to encourage reading in your community while making a living doing what you love. Even in the age of Amazon and e-books, independent bookstores have been making a comeback. People have begun to appreciate bookstores not only as a good place to buy a new book, but as a community gathering place and event space. 

You’ll need to find a great location, and build a sizable inventory of books, with your selections based on your personal tastes and preferences. You’ll also need to decide what other products you might offer — literary knickknacks, coffee and snacks, reading accessories? Beyond that, it’s relatively easy to get started. And if you do it right, the customers will surely come.

6. Business Coaching

Not long ago, there were only a handful of coaching firms in the United States. Americans have learned to appreciate the value of good insight and planning, particularly when it comes to major decisions involving their finances, career and personal matters. 

If you have expertise in any of these areas, you could start your own coaching business and help people lead more fulfilling lives while grabbing a slice of this fast-growing market. It’s easy to get started. You just need a reliable computer, some relevant experience and a strong marketing campaign, highlighting your skills on social media and beyond. 

The challenge will be attracting and maintaining clients, so you’ll need to find a way to stand out from the coaching crowd and prove your worth. A great website will surely help.

7. Blog

In the podcast era, you might have thought that blogs had gone out of style. You would be wrong. More than 2 million blog posts go online every day, and after years of steady growth, the US is home to about 32 million blogs. As a result, there is real opportunity for a bold entrepreneur looking to start a blog business and join this massive market, even part-time.

It requires minimal investment. All you really need is a reliable computer and decent wifi. The major hurdle is coming up with a concept, an objective or mission for your blog business. You might choose generating funds to feed hungry children or delivering crucial news to the people of your city or state. Once you’ve found your niche, you’ll need to reach out across your network, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and beyond, looking for all those who write on related subjects and asking them to get on board. You could offer discounts, incentives, or rewards to sweeten the deal. 

Once a couple of accomplished bloggers sign on, the paid advertisements will start rolling in and you’ll be on the road to success in the blogging business.

8. Craft Business

Do you have a creative hobby? If it involves some sort of craft, you might want to consider turning your favorite at-home pastime into a business, and potentially a major revenue stream. With people stuck at home for months on end looking for something creative to do or something interesting to buy, the arts and crafts industry has exploded since the start of the pandemic. That means right now is a great time to start your own craft business, provided people with wonderful products and ride this wave to prosperity. 

You’ll be your own boss, working at home at times that are best for you. You’ll be able to embrace and express your creativity, producing goods that could be sold around the world. But you will need to decide which products to focus on. This could be anything from crocheted blankets and clay jewelry to embroidered handkerchiefs and knit hats. Whatever you choose, be sure to research what’s already out there and offer a unique twist on existing products. Building a strong brand will be key to the success of your craft business.

9. Radio Station

More than eight in 10 adults in the US listen to the radio weekly, making the radio one of the most powerful mediums of communication. Radio has been able to stay relevant by adapting to new technologies. It’s now accessible through smartphones, laptops, and other mobile devices. 

Starting your own radio station would be a great way to launch your broadcasting career. It’s fun and highly profitable too. Depending on your budget, you can apply for a license to operate a web radio station or a traditional AM/FM radio station. Broadcasting on the web requires lesser startup investment and allows you to reach more listeners.

It’s important to decide on your programming early on, whether you want to just play music, broadcast podcasts, or both. Keep in mind that the number of podcast listeners in the US has more than doubled in the last five years. If you play your cards right, you’ll be making money from your radio station soon.

10. Online Courses

Thanks to video conferencing apps, e-learning and online courses are becoming more popular and seeing explosive growth. The global online education market was valued at $38.72 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow from $48.05 billion in 2023 to $270.32 billion by 2031. If you’re an expert in a certain field, you can start an online courses business and help educate the world while making good money.

Before you launch, it’s important to keep learn the latest trends, such as the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in online classes. Integrating these into your course programs and providing engaging content could spell the difference for your business. 

You might start small and run your business from home. You just need a PC or mobile device, fast and reliable internet connection, a compelling website, and a creative marketing plan to attract clients. With these in place, your online courses business has a great shot at success.

11. Health Coaching

Allied health professionals who wish to start their own health coaching business are in luck. Demand for health coaches has been growing in the US as six in 10 American adults suffer from at least one chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The risk factors for chronic diseases can be reduced through lifestyle changes. 

A health coach helps clients find the motivation to implement these lifestyle changes and improve their health.

In order to become a health coach, you will need a degree in nutrition, nursing, psychology or other allied health programs. You may want to check with your local authorities whether you also have to get certified or apply for a license before you can start your business. It’s a good idea to plan ahead on how you will find clients and market your services to make sure your health coaching business succeeds.

12. Cooking Class

Are you a skilled and trained cook? You can start a cooking class business and help others do wonders in the kitchen while earning some cash. The US cooking class industry is worth $2 billion and expected to rebound strongly from the pandemic. Globally, the industry is expected to soar 450% by 2029, driven by demand from new generations of foodies. 

Before you launch, it’s important to obtain relevant certifications to increase your value as a brand. If you conduct classes online, you can just set up a DIY studio in your kitchen, but you’ll need tools and equipment. You’ll also need a high-resolution camera, microphone, lighting equipment, fast internet connection, and live streaming software if you’re doing it in real time.

Keep in mind that you’ll be competing with culinary schools, so be bold with your marketing. With careful planning and some market research, you can achieve culinary and financial success!