If you want to start an online business in 2026 but don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone!
The online world is changing fast — and the best opportunities today are the ones you can run FULLY on your own, without a team, without complicated tech, and without a big budget.
✨ Before we start: If you want a simple, step-by-step way to create your first digital product using AI, check out my FREE 5-Day Challenge.
It shows you exactly how to go from idea → AI-created product → ready to sell in just a few days. If you want to check it out, click Here to join the challenge ⭐
Now let’s look at the 10 best one-person business ideas for 2026 👇
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💡 1. Start a Blog
Blogging is still one of the smartest long-term online businesses — especially when AI makes writing, researching, and outlining posts so much easier. A blog lets you build your brand slowly and quietly, without needing to show your face or post videos.
You can write about anything you enjoy: online business, productivity, personal growth, fashion, recipes, or digital marketing. Over time, your blog becomes a marketing machine that works for you 24/7.
There are multiple ways to monetize a blog:
- Affiliate links
- Selling your digital products
- Display ads
- Newsletter signups (which build long-term income)
If you want help getting started, I have a full tutorial on How to start a profitable blog in 2026.
💡 2. Start a Newsletter
Newsletters are perfect for beginners who want a low-pressure business they can run from their laptop. You write once a week (or even twice a month), share helpful tips, and slowly build a community of readers who trust your voice.
A newsletter can make money through:
- Affiliate recommendations
- Your digital products
- Sponsored emails
- Paid premium subscriptions
The best part?
You don’t need social media at all. People join your list, read your content, and buy directly from your emails.
Platforms like Beehiiv or Systeme.io make it easy to start for free and grow at your own pace.
Want a step-by-step guide?
Check out my full tutorial on How to start a newsletter and make money with Beehiv — perfect for beginners.
💡 3. Create & Sell Digital Products
Creating digital products is one of the easiest businesses to run solo — and one of the most profitable. You create something once, upload it, and it can sell over and over again without extra work.
Popular digital products include:
- Planners and journals
- Step-by-step guides
- Templates
- Toolkits
- Checklists
- Mini-courses
- Prompt packs
AI tools like ChatGPT make this even faster by helping you brainstorm ideas, outline your content, and create the first draft. You can design everything in Canva and sell it on:
✨ Inside my free 5-Day Challenge, I teach you step-by-step how to create your first digital product, even if you’re a total beginner.
💡 4. Build a Simple Shopify Store (Digital Products Only)
If you want a professional home for your digital products, a Shopify store is the perfect option. You don’t need inventory, suppliers, or shipping — everything is delivered instantly online.
A digital-only Shopify store can sell:
- Canva templates
- Prompt packs
- Ebooks
- Planners
- Mini-courses
- Toolkits
You can start small with just one product, then slowly add more as you grow. Shopify’s tools make it easy for beginners to look polished and trustworthy.
If you want guidance, I also have a tutorial on How to start a Shopify store and make money.
💡 5. Sell ChatGPT Prompt Packs
Prompt packs are one of the fastest businesses to launch because AI helps you create them in just a few hours. You don’t need design skills, filming, or complicated setup — just simple text prompts that help people save time.
You can create niche prompt packs like:
- Prompts for business owners
- Prompts for Instagram content
- Prompts for mindset + journaling
- Prompts for digital product creators
These are easy to sell on Payhip or Shopify, and they pair perfectly with your other digital products.
💡 6. Create Mini-Courses
Mini-courses are in huge demand because people don’t want long, overwhelming programs anymore. They want fast, simple lessons that help them get results quickly.
A mini-course is usually:
- 30–90 minutes
- Simple to film (or you can use slides + voiceover)
- Easy to outline using ChatGPT
- High-value and beginner-friendly
You can create a mini-course in 1–2 weeks and sell it on Payhip or Shopify. It can teach anything you know: a skill, a process, a system, or a shortcut that helped you.
✨ Mini-courses fit perfectly with my FREE 5-Day Challenge because the challenge teaches you how to create digital products quickly using AI — and a mini-course is one of the easiest products to build once you know the process.
💡 7. Create Faceless AI Videos
If you want to grow an audience without showing your face, faceless AI videos are the perfect solution. You can make short content for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube using simple tools and B-roll clips.
Types of faceless videos that perform well:
- Aesthetic lifestyle clips
- Motivational edits
- Text-on-screen tips
- Tutorials
- AI-generated B-roll montages
You can monetize through:
- Affiliate marketing
- Digital products
- TikTok Shop
- YouTube Shorts bonuses
This is a great one-person business if you like creativity but prefer privacy.
💡 8. Create Canva Templates
Designing Canva templates is a peaceful and creative business you can run solo. Canva is beginner-friendly, and you can make beautiful templates even if you’ve never designed anything before.
Templates that sell well:
- Social media bundles
- Business toolkits
- Planners
- Journals
- Resumes
- Branding kits
Once created, you can sell them on Payhip or Shopify and let your templates generate passive income all year.
💡 9. Write eBooks or Niche Guides
Short, actionable guides are still incredibly popular because people want clear, simple solutions — not long textbooks.
Examples of niche guides:
- “Beginner’s Budgeting Blueprint”
- “Meal Prep for Busy People”
- “Start a Side Hustle in 30 Days”
- “Self-Confidence for Beginners”
You can outline your entire ebook in minutes using ChatGPT, then format it in Canva or Google Docs. It’s an easy way to turn your knowledge into a product you can sell forever.
💡 10. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a powerful one-person business because you don’t need your own products to start. You simply recommend tools you already use and trust.
Examples:
You earn a commission when someone uses your link to sign up.
This pairs extremely well with blogging, newsletters, Pinterest, and faceless content — because you can recommend tools naturally while providing value.
✨ Final Thoughts
You don’t need a big team or a big budget to build a successful online business in 2026.
The combination of AI tools + simple digital products + beginner-friendly platforms makes it easier than ever to get started.
If you want the quickest way to begin…
👉 Join my free 5-Day Challenge and learn how to create your first digital product with AI — step by step, even if you’re a complete beginner.