Business in 2025 – Simple Guide for Everyone -

Business today is not like before. Things are changing fast, and if you want to start or grow a business, you need to know what’s happening around the world. Here are some simple points:

1. Online Business is Growing

People love shopping online. From clothes to food, almost everything is on the internet.
Even small shops can sell online using Facebook, WhatsApp, or websites.

2. Work From Home is Common

Many people now work from home or part-time in offices.
If you have skills like writing, designing, or teaching, you can earn money online.

3. Green & Eco-Friendly Business

Customers like businesses that care about the environment.
Example: Using paper bags instead of plastic, or selling eco-friendly products.

4. Happy Customers = Strong Business

If your customers are happy, they will come back again and again.
Always give good service and listen to what customers need.

5. Small Start, Big Future

You don’t need a lot of money to start.
Even small ideas, like homemade food or handmade crafts, can grow into big businesses with time.

How to start a business

Brainstorm and refine your business idea

You might already have a great business idea that you can’t wait to start, or maybe you’re still in the early brainstorming stages of finding your niche. If the latter applies to you, think about what you’re passionate about and what skills you possess. The best business ideas often emerge from your interests and expertise, making it easier to stay motivated and dedicated throughout the journey.

Keep in mind that there are some very real, very unavoidable small business challenges to consider. Most business ideas require money, innovation and time to yield results—some may even come with financial risks. This is true for both brick-and-mortar businesses and online business ideas. That’s why as a first step, you’ll need to refine and test your idea to make sure it’s a viable option. Here are some effective ways to kickstart your brainstorming process.

How to choose the right business idea – 10 smart tips

Got a great idea but not sure it’s business-ready? The best ideas solve problems, meet market demand and play to your strengths. Starting fresh or refining an idea? Here’s how to come up with a business idea that works. These 10 tips will help you get there.

Follow your passion but validate it: Passion is a great motivator but it’s not enough on its own. Research market demand to make sure there’s a real opportunity before jumping in.
Identify a problem to solve: The best businesses solve real problems. What frustrates you or others? A simple solution to a common pain point is often where great ideas begin.
Assess your strengths and skills: Build on what you’re naturally good at. Your experience, expertise and talents can give you an edge and make starting out easier.
Check for market demand: A great idea only works if people are willing to pay for it. Do some research, look at trends and talk to your target market before going all in.
Test before you invest: Start small. Try a pilot, build a landing page or sell a simple version of your product to see if there’s interest before committing fully.
Think about scalability: A hobby can make money but can it grow into a full business? Consider if your idea has the potential for long-term growth and scalability.
Evaluate startup costs and profitability: Some ideas need big investments while others can be bootstrapped. Make sure your business model is sustainable and financially sound in the long run.
Consider your ideal lifestyle: Do you see yourself running a remote business, opening a local shop or growing a high-growth startup? Your business should fit the lifestyle and work-life balance you want.
Analyze your competition: Competition is good—it shows demand exists. Study your competitors to see what they’re doing well and where you can stand out.
Stay flexible and open to change: Great business ideas evolve over time. Be ready to adjust, refine or pivot based on customer feedback and market trends.

Popular business ideas to get you started:

Dropshipping: Dropshipping is a great low-cost business idea that lets you sell products without needing to manage your own inventory. You simply need an eCommerce website, or a specific dropshipping website and a strong marketing strategy to get started.

Print on demand (POD): Another popular way to make money online, print on demand involves working with suppliers that print your designs on blank items, such as T-shirts and mugs, and ship the orders on your behalf. This is an effective way to put your own spin on a retail venture and start your own online store.

Freelancing: Freelance artists, writers and creatives can jumpstart their business by creating a portfolio website and monetizing their skills. Take Berlin-based illustrator and animator Rafael Varona for inspiration—his modern, visually engaging Wix website features artwork he’s done for leading companies including Disney, Google and Porsche.

Starting a service business: Service business ideas center around selling your expertise, skills or assistance—such as tutoring, dog walking, personal training or event planning. For inspiration, take a look at Whitehead Weddings + Events. Founder Anna Katherine Whitehead has built an elegant service website that showcases work samples, package offerings and more.

Selling handmade items: If you’ve got a knack for creating homemade jewelry, artwork, décor or clothing, you have a business idea just waiting to launch. Follow the lead of businesses like Tach Clothing, whose online Wix storefront features handmade crocheted clothing inspired by vintage fashion.

Boring businesses: Don’t be fooled by the way these business sound, boring means anything but. These ventures are typically businesses that offer products or services that are essential but may not have flashy or attention-grabbing qualities. Think accounting firms, insurance companies, waste management services or industrial manufacturers.

Is starting a business worth it?

Many business owners would say, yes. Business ownership can mean profit as well as some degree of financial stability. Moreover, for small business owners it offers the opportunity to escape the confines of a nine-to-five job that may not bring you happiness or fulfillment.

That said, starting a business isn’t without its share of challenges—from launching a profitable idea, to securing funding, to managing a business, it all takes time, resources and a lot of hard work. Not all businesses succeed. Before launching your business make sure to be very clear about your goals and timeline for achieving them.

What are some creative ways to test my business idea without quitting my day job?

To test your business idea while keeping your day job (and income), consider launching a minimal viable product (MVP) or service on weekends. You can also use a social media account for your business or a simple business website to gauge interest — on social media does your idea attract engagement from potential customers? Can you generate potential users to your idea via your website? Then, once you have their attention, conduct surveys or interviews with potential customers.

There’s nothing to stop you from starting a business small, on weekends or in the evenings. It can involve a lot of time commitment and juggling with your day job but it can be the most risk free way to start a business.

How a successful business owner turned selling handmade items into a $2M business

Six and a half years ago, Amanda Buhse was working a nine-to-five job as a graphic designer. Her day job was exhausting so Buhse and her best friend, a nurse, decided to meet a few times a week to decompress over a glass of wine and make candles together. The hobby stuck. Buhse eventually turned those evenings melting wax and cutting wicks into a bustling business.

Now she’s the owner and chief creative officer of Coal and Canary, a Canada-based online luxury candle company. Her candles are sold all over North America and have even made it into the glamorous gift bags handed out to VIPs at the Oscar and Grammy Awards.

What started as a passionate side hustle is now a $2M business.

Conduct market and competitor research

When your business is still in its earliest stages, doing market research is critical. This step helps you understand your target audience’s needs and preferences, allowing you to tailor your products or services accordingly. It also enables you to evaluate the competitive landscape, identify market gaps and make informed decisions. All of this increases your chances of success and mitigates risk.

When it comes to consumer behavior, there are two sets of research: primary and secondary.

Primary research: This is the direct study of your target market by researching them firsthand, such as by conducting user interviews or holding focus groups. You’ll want to define who your customers are and further segment your market by age, location, language, spending power or even stage of life (for example, college students, newlyweds or retirees).
Secondary research: This consists of gathering information from external sources. Conduct an online search or reference public agencies like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as a good starting point. Down the line, you might also find internal data just as useful. You can turn to your own sales reports and see what trends took off right under your nose.

This combination of primary and secondary research can help you create a thorough SWOT analysis, which is an insightful way to measure and evaluate your overall business outlook against your competitors. To do this, create a table with four quadrants, where you’ll rank your business’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Strengths: Identify the areas where your business stands out. Then, turn to your competitors and ask yourself, “How can I do what they do, but better?” Look at the products and services they offer to help you understand what attracts their customers, and use this as inspiration to improve your own business strategy and competitive advantage.
Weaknesses: Be honest with yourself here. Answer this question as directly as you can: What do customers complain about or dislike? This will let you narrow in on one topic at a time, as opposed to tackling something abstract like, “What is wrong within my company?”
Opportunities: Think about your business in terms of growth. Consider different ways to expand and tap into new spaces, like running seasonal events, taking on a green initiative or testing out trends.
Threats: Be cautious of any external factors that can affect your business in a negative way. It can range from market fluctuations to consumers who no longer express interest in your offerings.

Remember to play to your understanding of what a specific audience needs. Identifying a gap in the market, or having an idea to make an existing product is an important part of market research for starting a business.

How one entrepreneur translated her understanding of her target audience into business success

Raquel “Rocky” Harris knows a thing or two about kicking ass. She’s a five-time Muay Thai champion, Team USA gold medalist, Fight Camp trainer (that’s basically the Peloton of boxing) and, most recently, a thriving entrepreneur (see our guide on how to become an entrepreneur). Harris now uses Wix eCommerce to sell a collection of wellness products to athletes like herself as the founder of Warm Up.

“I was making my own hand sanitizer and thought ‘Why don’t they have sanitizers that kill fungus?’” she says. “There are always breakouts in boxing gyms due to common skin infections like ringworms. Tea tree soap is anti-fungal, so I started adding it to my hand sanitizers, which eventually evolved into my sweat butters.”

She launched her first product line while training clients and creating Wix sites for her colleagues, all while moving across the country to shoot workouts for Fight Camp.

Is it easy to start a business?

Creating a business doesn’t have to be difficult or intimidating. It can start with a simple but strong idea, like Raquel Harris’ realization that hand sanitizers would be all the more useful if they killed fungus, especially in boxing rings.

Starting a business does require dedication, hard work and careful planning—there’s no way around that. While it may not be easy, per se, with the right mindset, research, resources and tools like Wix, anyone can embark on the entrepreneurial journey. The rewards of building a successful business can truly be fulfilling and worthwhile.

More popular business ideas to consider

Pick a business name

Feeling satisfied with your business idea? The next step is to come up with a business name that will leave a strong first impression on potential clients.

You’ll want a name that’s catchy, memorable and scalable (i.e., is still relevant even if your business expands to new locations, niches or product offerings). If you need a little nudge, Wix’s free business name generator can help you brainstorm some ideas, or you can check out these best company names for further inspiration.

You’ll also want to make sure no one else has trademarked or registered your desired business name, which you can check via the U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System or with the Office of the Secretary of State for the state in which your business is located. And, remember you’ll eventually want to build a website for your business. Because your domain name will most likely be the same as your business name, make sure your desired name is available by doing a domain name search.

Learn more:

Write up a business plan

Another essential step when starting a business is to come up with an organized plan. At its core, a business plan is a document that serves as a roadmap for how to structure, operate and manage your new venture. It serves multiple purposes, like helping to attract investors, earning the trust of banks and outlining the cost of starting your business. You can use a business plan template to get your thoughts on paper.

No matter how you get started, your business plan should include these components:

Executive summary: Give a high-level view of your business proposal or concept. If you were to make a professional elevator pitch (explaining your business in about a minute), you’d be reciting this bit aloud.
Company description: Include your company’s name, the names of your founders, your locations and your mission statement. Your mission statement should include core values, goals and your guarantee to provide clients with quality service or products. Take a look at these powerful mission statement examples to gather inspiration for your own.
Industry analysis: Provide research about your industry, such as small business trends and growth. When writing this section, think about how large your industry is and how it’s expected to evolve. You should also consider who your competitors are, and make note of their strengths and weaknesses.
Customer analysis: Describe your target audience and how you plan to reach them. Clearly state the needs of your customers and specify how your product or service will meet them.
Organization and management: Provide an overview of your business’ organization and leadership, encompassing any founders, executives, board members, employees or important stakeholders. Creating a visual representation—like an organizational chart—can assist in presenting your company’s structure effectively.
Service or product offerings: Create a list of your existing and upcoming products and services. If you’re still developing your business idea, write a concept statement to outline your vision. Additionally, incorporate a proof of concept (POC) to showcase the viability of your idea.
Marketing and sales: Outline how your business concept actually translates into sales. Explain your marketing strategies and tactics, including plans for advertising, promotions, pricing, distribution channels and digital marketing efforts, along with planned consumer touch points (website, mobile app, retail store, etc.).
Financial projections: Estimate how much money will be coming in—or share any data around early sales. Investors want to see hard numbers to justify their risk. Include a sales forecast (based on industry and market trends), expenses, sunk costs, overhead costs, anticipated break-even point, expected accounts receivable, an estimated cash flow (derived from your sales forecast and expenses) and expected profits or losses.
Operational plan: Wrap up with an action plan. If you have a team, write down how each member will contribute to achieving your company’s SMART goals and objectives. Answer questions like “Is there a timeline?” and “What are the milestones you wish to accomplish?” For both, think in terms of years and quarters.

Download your free template

How do I balance risk and reward?

Balancing risk and reward starts with smart decision-making. Instead of avoiding risk, assess potential downsides and plan ways to manage them. Use data, market research and competitor analysis to figure out if the reward is worth the risk. Spread your efforts across different areas—don’t put all your resources in one place. Test ideas with small investments, gather feedback and adjust as you go. This helps you minimize losses while learning along the way.

Smart entrepreneurs know the importance of setting clear risk thresholds. Figure out what level of risk works for your financial situation, business goals and industry trends. If an idea has big potential but requires a lot of upfront investment, try options like partnerships or phased rollouts to spread the risk. Always have a backup plan—whether it’s pivot strategies, emergency funds or secondary revenue streams, being prepared helps you adjust if things don’t go as planned.

How choosing the right business model and establishing a clear business plan helped this online business succeed

Based in Oldbury, right in the heart of England, Andrew Darby, Faye Darby, Craig Pritchard and Terri Pritchard sold their first piece of jewelry in January 2019. Their story began with Wix eCommerce and a little inspiration from their spouses: “Our wives love jewelry, so we thought, ‘Let’s do something mid-range and affordable. Nice pieces that last well.’”

For these new entrepreneurs, the key to starting their business off on the right foot was, in their own words, also their biggest challenge, “The biggest challenge was having a business model so to speak—or a blueprint and sticking to that blueprint. Eventually when we found our blueprint, we got ourselves out of trying to sell here, there, and everywhere.”

And for this business, it’s worked. As of April 2022, Darby Pritchards had an annual returning customer rate of over 20%.

Looking for a business plan for a specific business idea:

Choose a legal structure for your business

While there are different flavors of legal structures, choosing which one will best serve your needs is based on multiple factors, such as how much personal liability you want to have, taxes and business registration requirements. For example, a sole proprietorship is the easiest to file, but has the most personal liability. LLCs relieve you of many personal liabilities, but can come with hefty tax payments.

A great place to start is by reviewing your options via the U.S. Small Business Administration’s business structure breakdown.

The most common types of businesses or business entities in the U.S. include:

Sole proprietorship: You’ll have full control and responsibility but also full liability for business debts, meaning your personal assets could be at risk. No formal registration is required unless you’re using a trade name, but you’ll need to report profits on your personal tax return. Since business income and expenses are tied to your personal finances, keeping good records and having liability insurance is a must.
Partnership: Partnerships need a clear agreement on profit-sharing, responsibilities and liabilities. The business doesn’t pay income tax—profits and losses pass through to partners’ personal tax returns. Each partner is personally responsible for debts, meaning personal assets could be at risk. Disputes and financial risks can happen, so having a solid partnership agreement is key.
Limited Liability Company (LLC): An LLC gives you liability protection by keeping your personal assets separate from business risks. You’ll need to register with the state and pay annual fees. LLCs can be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation depending on what works best for you. Be sure to pick the right tax classification and follow your state’s rules to keep your liability protection intact.

Corporations: A corporation is a separate legal entity that shields owners from personal liability but requires more paperwork and corporate tax filings. Profits are taxed at the corporate level and dividends are taxed again on shareholders’ personal returns. There are different types of corporations, like C-corps and S-corps, each with unique tax and regulatory implications. Corporations are a great choice for businesses looking to raise capital, issue stock or scale big.

Cooperative: A business owned and run by its members for their mutual benefit. Starting a co-op means understanding member roles and working together to make decisions. Whether nonprofit or for-profit, members share profits and responsibilities, so it’s key to get everyone on the same page about the mission. You’ll also need to handle legal documents and state filings.

Franchise: A franchise operates under an established brand using a proven model. It’s a reliable system but comes with upfront fees and ongoing royalties. Franchisees need to follow the franchisor’s rules and systems, so it’s key to research the brand thoroughly. Make sure you understand the support they offer, contract terms and any restrictions before committing.

Nonprofit: A nonprofit is an organization designed to serve a charitable, educational or social mission instead of making a profit. These mission-driven organizations need to register with the IRS to get tax-exempt status. Fundraising and grants are key since any profits have to go back into the mission. Staying organized and following nonprofit laws is essential for success.

How do you know which one is right for you? We consulted with Shylene D’Addario, VP, associate general counsel with LegalZoom. Shylene offered the following insight:

“Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and LLCs are the most popular kinds of business structures, according to the IRS. But what type is best for you and why?

A sole proprietorship is best suited to a business owned by an individual or couple that doesn’t have employees or significant contracts with landlords, suppliers or subcontractors.
A business with two or more owners that hasn’t established an entity is treated as a general partnership. General partners typically share the management of the business and its profits and losses but don’t have any protection against liability for their partners’ negligence, misconduct or internal disputes.
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) provide their owners with protection against liability for company obligations. If your LLC can’t pay its debts or is unable to meet its obligations, only the business assets—and not personal assets—are at risk in a lawsuit. This flexibility and limited liability make LLCs a popular choice for small businesses of all types.
Corporations offer their owners (called ‘shareholders’) the same liability protection as LLCs. Corporations tend to have somewhat more complex recordkeeping and reporting requirements than LLCs, depending on the state in which you incorporate.

If you have additional questions about what kind of entity may be right for your needs, you can learn more on our website or LegalZoom can connect you with a business lawyer who can help advise you in the business process.”

Start an LLC with LegalZoom.

Do your research, and compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of the different business structures to find the right fit for you. A business lawyer can help advise you in this process, and the IRS’ guide to business structures can assist in evaluating tax implications.

Market and promote your business

Once you’ve launched your business and published your website, you can start building a small business marketing strategy that fuels business growth. A solid marketing strategy is essential for bringing in customers and taking your business to the next level. As Erin Shea, senior director of North America marketing for VistaPrint shares, “Customers are the backbone of any successful small business and effective marketing is one of the best ways to build and sustain your community.”

According to Erin:

“Whether you’re engaging customers online or offline—remember that consistency is worth its weight in gold. A cohesive look to your marketing inspires confidence in your professionalism, builds credibility and strengthens customer rapport.”

Check out more of VistaPrint’s 2024 marketing trends to help with your new business efforts.

Here are some of the most common marketing strategies to consider:

Paid advertising: By leveraging targeted advertisements, small businesses can reach a vast audience of potential customers who are actively searching for products or services related to their industry. Google Ads are particularly popular, letting businesses bid on relevant keywords, ensuring their ads appear prominently in search engine results. Wix users can manage Google Ad campaigns from their site dashboard, leaving one less external platform to worry about.
Social media marketing: Marketing on social media brings you massive exposure from diverse groups of people. Pick a platform that your target audience uses and maintain an active presence there. You can also implement paid social media marketing; for example, Wix users can boost sales with fully integrated Facebook and Instagram ads directly from their website builder.
Email marketing: A highly effective tactic, email marketing can promote your brand and build engagement. Using this method, you can reach customers directly, build a loyalty program and customize messages based on their individual interests. Wix users have access to a free email marketing tool with customizable templates, simple editing interface and advanced analytics.
Content marketing: This involves crafting and sharing valuable and relevant content in order to draw in your target audience. It can be done in a variety of ways, including publishing a blog, creating a podcast or making a YouTube channel. Use any of these outlets to share business updates, distribute relevant industry related news and build connections with potential customers.
Word of mouth: Positive word of mouth can give your brand’s reputation and credibility a boost, increasing customer loyalty and customer acquisition. It’s a cost-effective strategy that can create a ripple effect, reaching a broader audience and generating organic growth for businesses.

Build an AI agent: Wix’s AI Custom Agent gives you the no-code tools you need to create specialized AI assistants that streamline your business operations. Your custom agent can be built to to handle critical tasks, such as automatically re-engaging dormant customers with personalized coupon emails, monitoring inventory levels and contacting suppliers when stock runs low, implementing smart discount rules that boost sales of underperforming products and delivering actionable sales insights straight to your inbox.

Bear in mind that finding the right marketing strategy may take some time, experimentation and patience. But, Erin notes, consistency is key: “Whether you’re engaging customers online or offline, remember that consistency is worth its weight in gold. Even if you’re just starting out, try experimenting with different marketing tactics to see what works. As your sales grow, direct a greater portion of your revenue for your marketing budget and keep building.”

Create a professional business website

Building a strong website and setting goals for your website is an absolute must when starting a business. For most prospective customers, investors and partners, your website will be their introduction to your business. It’s a vital opportunity for you to create a positive first impression of your brand.

Find a business website template

Website builders make it easy to create a professional, well-designed website with a few clicks of the mouse. Wix offers business website templates, including 500+ online store website templates, encompassing everything from finance and fashion to crafts and consulting (and beyond).

To begin, simply choose a template and customize it to meet your needs. Alternatively, you can utilize Wix’s AI website builder tool, which translates information about your design and layout preferences into a professional website tailor-made to your needs—all in a matter of minutes.

If you need more inspiration, check out the best business websites of the past year.

Build a team

As your business grows, it may be difficult for you to play multiple roles—which is where hiring employees and delegating tasks comes in. Even if you decide not to hire in-house staff, you may find yourself needing extra assistance from freelancers or independent contractors.

When you begin the hiring process, factor in your budget, your needs and the company culture you want to portray. Creating a well-defined vision statement will help you find the right people to satisfy all of these requirements.

There are many effective ways to source talent for your team. A few ideas to get you started:

Online job platforms: Websites like Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor offer job posting services where you can find potential team members.
Local job boards: Many communities have local job boards or websites where businesses can post job openings to attract candidates from the area.
College career centers: Contact career centers at local colleges and universities to connect with talented students or recent graduates seeking employment opportunities.
Networking events: Attend industry-specific business networking events or job fairs to meet potential candidates face-to-face and discuss job opportunities.
Social media: Utilize social media channels like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to reach out to a broader audience and attract job seekers.
Freelance platforms: Websites like Upwork, Freelancer and Fiverr offer access to freelancers who can work on specific projects or provide specialized skills.
Industry-specific forums or groups: Join online forums or social media groups dedicated to a particular industry to discover talented professionals interested in relevant job opportunities.

Business in 2025 – Simple Guide for Everyone