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Many people want to become indie makers, whether to explore more creative projects or escape from their 9 to 5. But the hardest part is to get started: what project should I work on? What idea is the most likely to succeed?
The truth is that it is very hard to predict which side project will turn into a full-blown business. Success is based on a combination of luck, timeliness, expertise, and external support. With that in mind, here is a list of 101 side project ideas you can use to get started. Because with inspiration comes motivation.
There are quite a few of these I find very interesting, so please do get in touch if you are thinking of pursuing any of them.
- RSS-like app but for email subscriptions
- Service that automatically turns desktop websites into mobile websites
- Tool to make taxes easy to figure out for nomads
- Data-analysis as a service
- AI-driven art consultancy for first-time buyers
- Help people get rid of an addiction (smoking, gaming…)
- Micro-learning product
- Sports coaching videos for kids
- Monthly emails featuring interviews of 13-18 teenagers
- Universal file format converter
- Platform to find the best tailor around you
- Maker news aggregator
- Craigslist for human billboards
- CRM for X
- Collection of the best places to get an online degree
- On-demand royalty-free / low-cost photos
- Business name generator
- Finance platform for people who hate finance
- Podcast
- Service to find great designers
- Movie finder for couples
- Niche chatbot
- Email digest of social media updates
- Platform to find a ghostwriter
- Community of people passionate about X
- App for makers to track their finances and expenses
- Slack bot to book meetings
- Database of ethical brands
- Random generator of self-care tips
- Platform to find the best caterers in your city
- Course about a topic you’re knowledgeable about
- Ebook
- Platform to find personal stylist
- Truly automated bookkeeping
- Goal-based book recommendations
- Website to browse recipes based on dietary restrictions
- App to learn how to DJ
- Platform to find a music instructor
- Tool to create logos without using any of the free icon libraries
- Platform to exchange honest reviews
- Private-labelling on Amazon (not our fave)
- Marketplace for makeup artists
- WordPress website done-for-you service
- App to decide what career path to follow
- Service to proofread blog posts
- Platform to find the best gym membership for you
- Blog installation as a service
- Mentorship platform
- Find freelancers that don’t suck
- Hiring platform for bartenders and waiters
- Platform to find voice artists
- CV review for senior candidates
- Translation services for technical content
- On-demand filters for Instagram and Snapchat
- Wikipedia for X
- Niche job board
- Deals for makers
- Chrome extension
- Marketplace for wedding planners
- Random quotes generator about X (can be a Chrome extension)
- App to help makers create a habit
- Automated online examination system
- Top 100 products in X category with affiliate links
- Flat-rate design service
- Monthly box subscription
- VR game
- Solide voting/polling platform
- App to become better at public speaking
- Smarter bookmarks manager
- Content writing as a service
- Automated invoice chasing
- Platform to recruit paid ads specialists
- Fake news detector
- Design and produce corporate merch products
- On-demand WordPress plugins
- Platform to get feedback on a landing page
- Podcast editing platform
- Handwritten cards for nerds you love
- Weekly email with 5 brandable fixed-price domains
- Better surveys
- Thoughtful comments plugin
- Platform to find tour guides in any city in the world
- Marketplace for side projects
- Tool to learn how to recycle
- API to insights service, e.g. Google Analytics data to actionable insights
- Simple habit tracking tool
- Platform to match brands and ambassadors
- Analytics for makers
- Website for livestreamers to connect
- Tool to better manage newsletter content
- Live database of unexpired coupons
- Knowledge base of preventative healthcare solutions
- Card-based tool to improve memory
- Learn X in 10 minutes platform
- Tool to figure out where to buy a house
- Voice app for Alexa or Google Assistant
- Project management for X
- Virtual book club
- Knowledge sharing platform between marketers and engineers
- Intranet for remote-first companies
- Automated validation of business ideas (haha)
Still looking? We have listed more ways to come up with side project ideas.
Happy making! ?
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