15 Business Ideas For Survivalists [2024]
In an increasingly unpredictable world, survivalists like you possess a unique set of skills tailored for self-sufficiency and resilience. But beyond just surviving, you could transform these skills into profitable business ventures. This article explores business ideas for the survivalist in 2024, providing practical opportunities to turn your expertise into income.
From starting a local preparedness consulting service to launching an online store for survival gear, there are numerous ways to monetize what you already know. You could even create educational content or offer workshops to teach others how to be self-reliant. With these business ideas, you'll not only thrive in challenging situations but could also help others do the same.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other survivalist businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative avenue for survivalists looking to supplement their income or even create a full-time business. By sharing your expertise in survival techniques, wilderness skills, and gear reviews, you could attract a dedicated audience and earn money through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Your authentic experiences and practical advice could set your channel apart in this niche, ultimately providing a steady revenue stream while allowing you to connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- You could monetize your passion by sharing survival tips and techniques, turning your knowledge into a profitable venture.
- You could build a community of followers who share your interests, creating opportunities for sponsorships and collaborations.
- You could enjoy the flexibility of being your own boss while making content that resonates with both seasoned survivalists and newcomers.
For more information on success stories and profitability, check out this page on Starter Story: YouTube Channel Ideas.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
2. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
If you are a survivalist, starting an online course sales business can integrate seamlessly with your lifestyle and expertise. Survivalists have a wealth of knowledge in areas such as wilderness survival, self-sufficiency, emergency preparedness, and sustainable living, which are all skills in high demand. By creating and selling online courses, you could not only generate passive income but also share your vital knowledge with a global audience eager to learn.
The e-learning market is set to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, offering tremendous growth potential. To get started, choose a target audience, create valuable content, and select an apt e-learning platform to sell your courses. Learn more about this opportunity at Starter Story.
Why start an online course business?
- You could monetize your survival skills and knowledge, creating a steady income stream.
- The initial effort required can yield long-term passive income as people continue to enroll.
- You could help others become more self-sufficient and prepared, a gratifying reward in itself.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
3. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
If you're a survivalist looking for a side business or a new primary revenue stream, starting a niche website could be an ideal solution. This type of website focuses on a specialized topic, allowing you to create content tailored specifically to a dedicated audience. Whether it's through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products, a niche website can provide creative freedom and a reliable source of passive income.
By choosing a niche you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, you could attract a loyal following and build a community that values your expertise. The benefit of owning a niche website is that once your site gains traction, it can continue to generate income with minimal ongoing effort.
For more insights, check out successful niche website stories on Starter Story.
Why start a niche website?
- You could share your survival skills and knowledge with a passionate audience, building a loyal following.
- Monetization options are varied, offering multiple revenue streams like affiliate marketing, ads, and product sales.
- A niche website has the potential to become a steady source of passive income once established.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
4. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business could be an excellent venture for a survivalist looking to supplement their income or create a thriving side business. These businesses cater to niche markets and deliver curated products monthly, making them highly desirable and profitable. For survivalists, curating items such as survival gear, emergency rations, and practical tools could not only fulfill a market demand but also allow you to share your expertise and passion for preparedness.
Why start a subscription box business?
- You could tap into a loyal and growing market of like-minded individuals who value preparedness and quality survival gear.
- Subscription models provide recurring revenue, giving you a consistent income stream.
- Your expertise and knowledge as a survivalist add immense value to the curated products, setting your subscription box apart from generic offerings.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
5. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way for a survivalist to supplement their income or start a side business. By sharing your expertise, tips, and stories about survivalism, you could build a loyal audience interested in the topic. With relatively low startup costs, including basic recording equipment and a hosting platform, it’s possible to get started without breaking the bank. Additionally, you could attract sponsors and advertisers, contributing further to your income stream.
Why start a podcast?
- Sharing your knowledge could build a community of like-minded individuals and attract dedicated followers.
- Low-cost startup: basic equipment and affordable hosting platforms make it accessible even on a budget.
- Potential for revenue generation through sponsorships, advertisements, and listener support.
Starting a podcast not only allows you to share your survivalist skills but also opens up a new avenue for income. Interested in learning more about profitability? Check out this page on Starter Story for additional insights.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
6. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
As a survivalist, starting an eCommerce reselling business could be a practical and lucrative side hustle. By purchasing services or goods for resale, you do not have to worry about production costs or creating products from scratch. You could leverage social media to launch your business, allowing you to start without needing a website immediately and grow as demand increases.
For detailed tips on getting started with an eCommerce reselling business, check out some success stories on Starter Story.
Why start an eCommerce reselling business?
- It's low-risk and requires minimal upfront investment, perfect for those cautious about initial costs.
- You could flex your entrepreneurial muscles by focusing on marketing and sales without the burden of creating products.
- Leveraging social media can help you build a customer base quickly and affordably, with the option to scale later.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
7. Start a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Navigating the world of stock investing can be a lucrative venture if you’ve got a knack for financial markets. A stock investing business revolves around buying and selling stocks to generate profit. For survivalists, turning to stock investing can provide a flexible income stream that doesn't rely on your physical location and allows you to utilize your analytical and strategic skills. This business involves continuously learning and adapting to market trends, which suits the survivalist mindset of being prepared and resourceful.
For those intrigued by finance and numbers, this business offers an exciting avenue to turn passion into profit. Educational resources and trading platforms can equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge. However, it requires dedication, continuous learning, and a keen eye on market movements. For more tips, you might want to check out these stock investing tips.
Why consider starting a stock investing business?
- The potential for high returns. With the right strategy, stock investing can provide substantial financial gains.
- Flexibility and freedom. You can operate this business from anywhere, suiting a survivalist’s need for mobility.
- Continuous learning and growth. The stock market constantly evolves, providing endless opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
8. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Imagine an app that helps you achieve your health and wellness goals, one step at a time. A health and wellness app is a digital tool designed to offer personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, mental well-being exercises, and progress tracking, all in one place. For survivalists, this venture can harmonize their expertise in health and endurance with the growing public demand for wellness solutions, creating a lucrative business path.
By developing a health and wellness app, you could guide users in adopting healthier lifestyles, akin to offering a virtual survivalist handbook for modern living. This app could monetize through subscriptions, in-app purchases, or even brand partnerships, helping supplement your income or transition into a full-fledged business. If you're passionate about health and technology, starting a health and wellness app could be your way to make a significant impact while building a profitable venture. For more insights and resources, you can explore this guide.
Why consider a health and wellness app?
- You could tap into a rapidly growing market with increasing public interest in health and wellness.
- Leverage your survivalist skills to create an app that stands out with unique, practical health and fitness programs.
- The startup costs are relatively low compared to other businesses, allowing you to scale as demand grows.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
9. Start a real estate investment firm ($398K/month)
Starting a real estate investment firm could be an ideal venture for survivalists looking to diversify their income streams. Real estate offers the potential for significant wealth-building through the buying, managing, and selling of properties. If you possess a keen eye for valuable assets and can handle market research, negotiations, and property management, this business can yield impressive financial returns.
Why start a real estate investment firm?
- Diversify income streams to build financial resilience and security.
- Utilize your resourcefulness and strategic thinking to identify and capitalize on lucrative property deals.
- Take advantage of the long-term appreciation and steady income from rental properties for sustained financial growth.
For more details on the pros and cons of starting a real estate investment firm, check out this page.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
10. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog as a survivalist is an excellent way to share your extensive knowledge and practical skills with a like-minded community, while potentially generating additional income. By pinpointing a profitable and underserved niche within the survival or prepper space, you could create unique, informative content such as how-to guides, product reviews, and survival tips. This not only helps others but also establishes you as an authority, opening doors to various monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing, brand collaborations, and even speaking engagements. For more insights, explore the profitability of niche blogging on Starter Story.
Why start a niche blog?
- It's a platform to share your passion and expertise with a dedicated audience.
- Multiple revenue streams like affiliate marketing and brand partnerships allow for supplemental income.
- Establishes you as an authority in the survivalist community, opening doors for future opportunities.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
11. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business makes perfect sense for survivalists looking to diversify their income streams. By promoting relevant products and services, such as outdoor gear, survival tools, or emergency supplies, you could earn commissions for every sale made through your referral. This allows you to monetize your knowledge and passion for survivalist products while also providing valuable recommendations to your community.
Getting started is relatively straightforward; it involves finding the right brands and products to partner with, which align with your expertise and audience. Through platforms like social media, blog posts, or dedicated websites, you could effectively drive traffic and generate sales, ensuring a steady stream of passive income over time.
Why start an affiliate marketing business?
- You could earn passive income by recommending products you already use and trust.
- You could leverage your survivalist expertise to create valuable content that converts.
- Starting this business requires relatively low upfront investment, making it accessible and low-risk.
To learn more about profitability and success stories, check out this page on Affiliate Marketing Business.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
12. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business can be a practical and profitable venture for survivalists. Utilizing your keen eye for nature and the skills you’ve honed in capturing dynamic and resourceful images, you could build an impressive portfolio of high-quality stock photos. With the increasing demand for authentic, unique images for marketing purposes, your stock photos could become a significant source of passive income. For those interested, here’s a useful resource to explore the profitability of a stock photography business.
Why consider a stock photography business?
- You could earn passive income by uploading and licensing your photos, making money over time without constant effort.
- Your unique survivalist perspective can produce exceptional photos that stand out in a crowded market.
- Minimal upfront investment required if you already possess good photography gear, making it a low-entry barrier business.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
13. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
For survivalists looking to supplement their income or start a side business, launching a social media automation business offers an innovative and sustainable option. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. This business involves creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms, catering to small businesses and influencers who are eager to enhance their social media presence.
With the burgeoning need for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there is significant demand for automation solutions. Developing or integrating software, staying updated on social media trends, and building client relationships are key components of this business. For those with a knack for technology and marketing, starting a social media automation business can be both a lucrative and fulfilling endeavor. You can check out more about starting this business here.
Why start a social media automation business?
- Minimal upfront investment: You could start by leveraging readily available software tools before developing custom solutions.
- Flexibility and scalability: The business allows you to work from anywhere and scale as demand grows.
- Surging demand: With more businesses requiring a robust social media presence, the need for automation services continues to rise.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
14. Start a web scraping API ($34.2K/month)
Setting up a web scraping API can be an excellent side business for a survivalist looking to supplement their income. As more businesses rely on data analytics, offering a service that automates data collection for market research, competitor analysis, or content aggregation can become a lucrative venture. Leveraging robust coding skills and web protocol knowledge, you can cater to various industries, starting small and expanding as your client base grows.
Why consider starting a web scraping API?
- The demand for automated data collection services is increasing across numerous industries.
- It offers the flexibility to work remotely, allowing you to balance it with other survivalist activities.
- A web scraping API can provide a consistent income stream, especially as more companies turn to data-driven decision-making.
For more insights and tips on starting this business, check out the success stories from those who have done it successfully.
How much you can make: $50 — $125,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $900 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
PlanIt is a travel recommendation and planning platform that has seen compelling growth in database coverage and user growth, covering every country in the world with several thousand users and a large SEO focus as well as a growing interest from travel and lifestyle businesses to list their details.
15. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Starting an AI writing tool as a survivalist makes perfect sense, especially for those looking to supplement their income with an innovative and technologically driven side business. By leveraging advancements in AI, you could create a tool that continuously delivers high-quality content with minimal human intervention, appealing to businesses, bloggers, and students who demand precise and engaging material. This venture not only has the potential for substantial income but also allows for flexibility and growth as the demand for AI-generated content rises. To read more about the profitability of an AI writing tool, visit Starter Story here.
Want to know why creating AI writing tool is a good idea?
- An AI writing tool saves time and effort, allowing you to focus on other essential survivalist activities.
- It provides a consistent income stream even in fluctuating economic climates.
- The demand for content is continuously growing, ensuring a steady market for your AI tool.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
