Automation is everywhere. From chatbots that help clients shop online to self-driving cars, automation is becoming a part of our everyday lives.
Modern technology allows you to automate dull, tedious, and repetitive tasks while improving productivity.
From email marketing to social media, business process automation allows owners to streamline processes and increase efficiency.
I’ve rounded up 12 profitable business ideas that can pretty much run themselves with little to no daily involvement on your part.
Get FREE access to our step-by-step plan for starting a blog that makes $1,000 per month.
Quick Picks
- Best Passive Income Idea – Blogging
- Quick Payouts – Feet Pics
- Most Flexible Business Idea – Printables
What Is An Automated Business?
Business process automation is like giving your everyday office tasks to someone else to do. An automated business:
- Uses tech and software to get business tasks done
- Cuts down on how much you need to be involved in daily repetitive tasks
- Need minimal human intervention to make money
- Makes your business processes more efficient and productive by doing things quicker and better
- Runs more smoothly and saves you money in the long run
- Handles keeping track of business info, making your workflow easier
Automation saves you money and helps you make more of it. It’s like having an extra set of hands, making your business run smoother and your wallet a bit thicker.
Orders go through, payments come in, and customers stay in the loop- without you needing to oversee every little detail.
With all that stuff taken care of, you get extra time for what matters, whether that’s hanging out with the kids or tackling another project you’re passionate about.
12 Best Automated Business Ideas
When it comes to starting a business, many people shy away from the idea due to the time and effort required.
However, there are some business processes that you can start that allow you to make money with little effort and automate it to make money passively.
Here are the best-automated business ideas to start today and make money in your sleep:
1. Starting A Blog
Blogging is my favorite way to make money with an automated business, and it’s not as hard as it sounds.
Starting a blog and creating articles takes time, but you can automate the process and earn money passively for years to come.
I started our blog almost 8 years ago, and we have articles from the beginning that still bring in monthly passive income.
You start by writing articles and scheduling publishing ahead of time so your site stays current even if you’re not glued to your computer every day.
Then, you monetize each blog post through ads, affiliate links, or digital products like eBooks or courses. These will generate income without you having to lift a finger!
You can also set up an automated email newsletter to keep your audience engaged without constant effort.
If this sounds good to you and you want to learn more about this business, my FREE Start Your Blog Boot Camp is the perfect place to start.
Get FREE access to our step-by-step plan for starting a blog that makes $1,000 per month.
2. Sell Feet Pics
Yes, you read that right! Selling feet pics is a legitimate way to make some extra money online without much effort.
You’ll essentially take interesting pics of your feet with different props and scenes and sell them for $5 – $20+ a piece.
Once you list them for sale, the money comes in time and again! and the more feet pics (or videos) you add, the more buyers you’ll attract.
Not only can you make money with this unique venture, but you can also make it a mostly hands-off operation.
You could use automation tools to post your pics at the best times or send marketing emails to potential buyers.
These tools can work for you, widening your reach and potentially increasing your sales.
Feet pics aren’t just a fad; it’s a genuine way to make some side money, and FeetFinder makes it easier than ever to get paying customers.
The safest and easiest website to buy and sell custom feet content. Start making extra money today!
3. Create Printables
Making and selling printables is a fantastic business idea that combines creativity with the ease of automation.
You can be artsy by designing something useful or eye-catching just once- like a stylish to-do list or a practical meal planner.
Its beauty is that you can sell that same design repeatedly. You create it once, but it keeps making money for you.
So you have this lovely suite of printables that people can buy and download anytime, generating income while you sleep, spend time with family, or work on your next big idea.
If this sounds like something you’d want to explore, you’re in luck!
Gold City Ventures offers a FREE workshop where you can learn even more about turning printables into a profitable, automated business.
Ready to create passive income selling digital printables online?
Watch the FREE training below to learn everything you need to know to start making money today!
4. Become A YouTuber
Starting a YouTube channel can be a fun and profitable way to make extra cash.
You make videos on passionate topics, upload them regularly, and chat with your viewers in the comments.
Then, make money through ads that play before or during your videos and even score some sponsorships if you get popular.
As your channel grows, you can use some handy automation tools to make things easier by automatically promoting content and monetizing your channel.
If all of this sounds like your cup of tea, the Mastering YouTube course is packed with tips on how to turn your YouTube channel into a real moneymaker.
Do you want to make thousands from your YouTube channel? In under a year, I now have over 70,000 subscribers and 4 million views.
5. Start A Dropshipping Business
Starting a dropshipping business is a great way to generate passive income without the hassle of managing inventory or shipping products.
You’ll work with a supplier to list things like clothes, accessories, shoes, and more in your store.
You’ll get a link from them to get checkout handled- with no storing and shipping on your end.
When a customer orders, the order goes directly to the supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer.
Automating your dropshipping business’s order processing and fulfillment elements lets you concentrate on marketing strategies and brand development.
To get started, you can sell on platforms like Shopify, which handles most of the marketing to drive traffic to your site and attract customers.
Drop Ship Lifestyle’s FREE training can show you how to start a dropshipping business.
How to Build a High Profitable, Semi-Automated Dropship Business.
15,000+ Students. 10+ Years of Results.
6. Rent Out Your Stuff
Renting out your stuff is a smart way to make extra money without doing much work.
Do you have a spare room, a car you’re not using, or even extra storage space? You can rent them out and let websites do most of the heavy lifting.
You’re turning unused stuff into small businesses that generate revenue while you get on with your day.
You have a few options for ways to rent your stuff:
- Airbnb – Rent your spare rooms to travelers; put your whole house up for rent when you’re on your own vacation to bring in passive income.
- Neighbor Storage – Use those extra rooms and closets for someone else’s stuff- rent them out as extra storage space.
- RVShare – Do you have a camper that doesn’t see the road much? Rent it out to other travelers for fast cash.
You list what you offer on these platforms; they take care of the rest. They’ll connect you with people who want to rent your stuff and process payments.
Once you’re set up, it’s pretty much hands-off. It lets you make money while focusing on things like spending time with the family or starting another easy-to-manage business.
7. Write An eBook
Writing an eBook is a cool way to make money and show off your expertise or interests. You write it once, and then you can keep selling it over and over.
And here’s the kicker: you don’t have to be glued to your computer to make sales.
Business process automation tools can do the marketing and even handle the sales for you. So you can focus on creating more great content or, you know, just living your life.
You can work with a publishing company, but self-publishing through Amazon is the way to go if you want sales to be more automated.
Amazon reaches more people, and you can share the link to your book far and wide online to land sales!
And don’t stop at just publishing the eBook and showing it off on social media.
You can hop onto podcasts or team up with bloggers to get even more people interested. The more people know about your eBook, the more you’ll sell.
So, you write a killer eBook, get some tools to do the selling, and maybe chat on a podcast. Before you know it, you’ve got this small business that takes care of itself.
8. Create Online Courses
Selling online courses is a great way to make money and share what you know. You’re turning your know-how into something you can sell, which is awesome.
All in all, online courses can be like your own mini-business that runs itself. It’s a solid way to create a source of income that doesn’t need your constant attention.
It’s easier than tutoring- all the lessons are set up and ready for every new student!
And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a tech guru to do it. Many tools can handle the hard parts for you- like marketing the course, signing up students, and even delivering the lessons.
If you’re wondering how to kick things off, here’s a quick game plan:
- First, think of a subject you know well and that people want to learn about.
- Next, plan what you’ll teach and make any necessary videos, worksheets, or quizzes.
- Then, set up some automation tools to get the word out and handle the sign-ups and course delivery.
- Voila, you’ve got an online course that can make money while doing other things.
If you need more guidance, a program called “Six Figure Creator” can help you nail the details.
It shows you the ropes of creating and selling digital products, like online courses. So you can get expert advice and ensure you’re on the right track.
9. Sell Stock Photos
If you love taking photos, why not profit from a photography business? Selling stock photos is a fantastic way to earn some extra cash passively.
You just upload your best shots to websites like Dreamstime, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images and let the online sellers do the rest.
People who need photos for their projects will pay to use yours, and you get a cut. It’s that simple.
The automation happens as soon as you upload an image- you add keywords and descriptions so people who need your picture can get
You capture the images once, upload them, and then let the automation get the sales.
Before you know it, you have a self-sustaining income source that lets you focus on getting that perfect shot.
So, if you’re into photography, this is a viable option to turn your hobby into a business with very low overhead costs.
10. Flip Websites
Flipping websites is all about buying a website, sprucing it up, and selling it for more than you paid.
You sell the improved website and pocket the difference. And because you’ve automated much of the work, your overhead expenses are low.
But here’s the cool part: you can implement automation tools to handle the upkeep and marketing. This way, you’re not stuck doing all the nitty-gritty stuff and can focus on improving the website.
Starting, you’ll need to do some homework to find a good website to buy. Once you’ve got it, improve its look, beef up the content, and get it noticed on search engines.
But don’t stop there. Use automation to handle things like sending emails to clients or keeping track of key metrics.
Plus, you’ve cut out tedious paperwork and other time-suckers. It’s like having a small business that you buy and sell with much less hassle.
11. On-Demand Printing Business
If you’ve got a knack for design, an on-demand printing business might be right up your alley. This is a fun way to make money while letting your creative juices flow.
You create custom designs for things like t-shirts or mugs and then sell them on sites like Etsy or Shopify.
The beauty of it? You don’t have to worry about keeping stock or mailing things out. Sites like Printify are a great automation tool that prints the products and ships them for you.
So you save time and can make your business more profitable with no work or stock to take up your time and space.
Oh, and if you’re wondering how to make your product descriptions stand out, a tool called Jasper Ai can help with that.
It’ll help you write eye-catching descriptions that really show off what makes your products special. So, in the end, you’ve got a creative business that mostly runs itself.
12. Start A Software Company
The beauty of a software company is that once the software is developed, it can be sold to countless customers without any additional work.
Whether it’s a mobile app, desktop software, or a cloud-based service, your software product can generate revenue around the clock.
Furthermore, you can automate many aspects of running a software company. For instance, you can use automated tools for customer support, sales, and marketing.
If you’re worried about the technicalities, don’t be. There are countless resources like GitHub for managing and storing your software’s source code or AWS for hosting your software.
So, if you have a great idea for a software product, why not turn it into an automated business? It’s a fantastic way to leverage your skills and create a source of passive income.
Pros & Cons Of Automation
Pros
- Allows for increased productivity and efficiency
- Most automated businesses can be low-cost businesses
- Reduces manual and repetitive tasks
- Saves time and resources
- Enables passive income generation
- Offers greater customer service consistency
- Facilitates scalability without significant resource addition
- Enables you to focus on core business aspects and innovation
- Reduces human errors and increases accuracy
Cons
- Requires initial investment and setup time
- Potential technical issues with automation tools
- May lack personal touch in customer service
- Requires continuous monitoring and updates of automation tools
- Risk of becoming too dependent on technology
- May require technical expertise to set up and maintain
- Automation tools and software can be expensive
FAQs
Does an automated business really bring in passive income?
The short answer is yes: an automated business can generate passive income.
When you use business process automation, you’re letting technology handle tasks you’d otherwise do manually.
You can use software from customer relationship management to data analysis and accounting software.
We’re talking about things like sorting through business data, handling back-office tasks, keeping stock or doing shipping, or even the customer service aspect of your business.
And let’s not forget email marketing software and social media monitoring to help with your marketing efforts.
By automating these tasks, you free up your time. This leads to increased productivity, and when you’re more productive, you’ve got a better shot at boosting that monthly revenue.
Of course, getting there might take some initial work and investment, but once you’ve set it up, the payoff can be worth it.
What’s an example of an automated business?
An automated business is essentially a business that runs itself once it’s set up.
Blogging is a great example of an almost fully automated business that can bring money in continuously with little work and the right automation tools.
Blogging might be a bit hands-on at the start—after all, you’ve got to create that content—but once it’s up and running and has a system, it can pretty much run itself and start generating revenue.
You can earn money through ad revenue, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing, making it a potentially profitable venture.
You can create and schedule posts in advance and then set them to go live on different days.
This way, your site stays fresh and engaging for your target audience, even if you’re not always sitting in front of your computer.
Many bloggers also use automation for different tasks that keep the blog running smoothly. Email software can send newsletters or updates to your readers without you having to do it manually.
What sorts of businesses can be automated?
You might be surprised at just how many types of businesses can be fully automated to some extent. Automation is your best friend if you’re keen on earning passive income.
Here are some businesses that can get automated:
- E-commerce Stores – You can use automation to handle the nitty-gritty stuff, like tracking inventory and ensuring orders get shipped out with little human intervention.
- Online Services – If you’re offering services online, like building landing pages, coaching, or consulting, you can automate appointment bookings and even send regular reports to clients.
- Marketing Campaigns – If you have a product or service to sell, automated marketing can be a lifesaver to help target users.
- Customer Relationship Management– Chatbots can answer common customer questions at any time of the day or night, helping with customer satisfaction and allowing businesses to flow smoothly.
Automation strategies can handle everything from tracking business data like sales to scheduling employee shifts.
It’s not just about cutting costs; it’s about freeing up your time to grow your business and find your target audience.
Each option allows you to handle various business tasks and complex processes with less human input, making them great ways to earn passive income.
What freelance jobs can use automation tools?
Freelancing offers the freedom to work on your terms, but it often comes with juggling multiple tasks and clients.
The good news is that automation tools can make life a bit easier.
From design and writing to virtual assistance and social media, there are plenty of freelance roles where automation can be a lifesaver.
Here’s a list of freelance jobs that can benefit from automation:
Freelance Writing
Tools like Surfer AI can be game-changers if writing is your jam. This tool helps you optimize your articles for SEO.
The result? Your articles rank higher in search results, making you a more attractive choice for clients.
Not only does this mean you could land more gigs, but it also saves you the time and hassle of manually doing keyword research and optimization.
Web Design
For all web designers, machine learning tools can give you a leg up. These tools analyze business data to figure out what clicks with visitors.
This way, you’re not just designing based on gut feeling; you’ve got data backing you up. That’s the kind of detail that can make your portfolio stand out.
Copywriting
Regarding copywriting, automation can help in more ways than one. For starters, you can use it for lead generation.
Imagine having a system that identifies potential clients, sends them an initial outreach email, and even follows up.
This frees you up to focus on what you do best: crafting persuasive copy that converts.
Social Media Management
Social media monitoring can be a full-time job.
But automation tools can schedule posts, analyze data analysis and user engagement, and suggest content for social media accounts that your audience might like.
This means you can give your clients more bang for their buck, which is always a good thing in the freelancing world.
Final Thoughts
Business process automation is a great way to earn passive income and keep your freedom.
Automated businesses are a dream come true if you want to make money with less ongoing effort.
You start small, use some nifty automation tools and mobile apps to make things run smoothly,
Then you can focus on the fun parts, like expanding your business or even starting a new one.
It’s a win-win when you implement automation in your business processes!
Get FREE access to our step-by-step plan for starting a blog that makes $1,000 per month.
