45 Powerful Non-Profit Business Ideas That Matter
Would you like to start your own non-profit business or earn money on the side, but still need to find the right business idea?
There will be countless exciting business ideas again in 2021. While it sounds exciting to start your own business, it's important that you run with the right idea.
Your goal should be to build a business in a niche that is not only profitable but can also ensure your long-term success.
Hopefully, all of the non-profit business ideas listed here will give you inspiration and a head start for the 2021 year.
1. Start a crafts business
If you're interested in starting a crafts business begin by gathering the necessary materials, tools, and a dedicated workspace to create your unique products.
In addition to crafting expertise, it’s important to possess basic business skills such as marketing, pricing, and customer service.
To sell your items, you can participate in local craft fairs take advantage of online platforms like Etsy, or create your own website.
It’s crucial to keep track of your expenses and profits to ensure that you’re making a profit. Nevertheless, running a crafts business can be a fulfilling and creative way to channel your passion for making things.
How much you can make: $600 — $1,200/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
The Crafty Gentleman, a UK-based DIY and craft blog, generates over $1.2k per month through sponsored brand partnerships and recently launched an online shop after organically growing a reader base and consistently nurturing an engaging online presence.
2. Start an art show business
3. Start an athletic tournament business
4. Start a recipe books business
If cooking is your passion, consider starting a recipe book business. You can create recipe books and sell them online or at a physical bookstore. To start a recipe book writing business, identify a niche and apply your creativity in creating unique recipes.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $62,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 382 days (?)
How one food blogger turned his passion into a business that brings in $15k-$20k per month through display advertising, affiliate marketing, and exclusive content, and doubled in revenue every year since going full time in 2018.
5. Start a localympics business
6. Start a film fundraising business
How much does it cost to start: $150 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
7. Start a dodge ball tournament business
8. Start a dance marathon business
9. Start a scavenger hunt business
Imagine a business where fun and adventure meet entrepreneurial spirit — that’s a scavenger hunt business. Simply put, this venture involves designing and hosting scavenger hunts for individuals, groups, or corporate clients seeking a unique and engaging experience.
The draw lies in its versatility; a scavenger hunt can be tailored to a theme, a location, or specific client needs. It offers a mix of creativity and logistical planning, keeping your workday far from monotonous. You can start small with minimal investment, focusing on local events, then gradually expand by partnering with venues and incorporating technology for a modern twist.
The opportunity to innovate and customize experiences makes this a rewarding business. Plus, there's a built-in capacity for scaling—consider mobile apps or corporate team-building packages. If you’re eager to create memorable experiences while growing a flexible, scalable business, a scavenger hunt venture could be your next exciting challenge.
How much you can make: $7,500/month
How long does it take to build: 25 days (?)
Constructed Adventures, a company that creates custom-tailored adventures for special occasions, charges a flat rate for adventures and expects a profit of around 60k in 2019, having learned valuable lessons about pricing structure for events, always being open and transparent, and using Google Drive to organize expenses and schedules among other tips.
10. Start a bike relays hosting business
11. Start a master chef tv show
12. Start a quiz bowl business
13. Start a donation business
14. Start a hairless fundraising business
15. Start a charity event hosting business
16. Start an animal adoption organization business
An animal adoption organization facilitates the adoption process to connect animals in need with loving homes.
As an entrepreneur venturing into this business, you will be responsible for rescuing and caring for animals while matching them with compatible adopters who can provide them with a permanent home.
This fulfilling venture not only helps animals in finding a better life, but also caters to the growing demand for pet adoption.
Given the increasing awareness of animal welfare and the desire for companionship, running an animal adoption organization can offer a promising opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of both animals and prospective pet owners.
How much you can make: $400/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Get Out Alive LLC's success story of how they grew to making a nearly $400/month profit on Patreon in just over a year, without spending any money on ads, through producing an animal attack podcast and selling merchandise.
17. Become a race organizer
Make an impact on the running community by becoming a race organizer. Race organizing involves planning, promoting, and executing running events, from local 5Ks to marathons.
You'll handle logistics like securing permits, designing race courses, and coordinating with vendors and volunteers. The role is multifaceted, requiring skills in project management, marketing, and community outreach.
What makes this business idea captivating is the blend of adrenaline and organization it demands. You create memorable experiences for participants while fostering a sense of community and promoting health and fitness.
If you enjoy meticulous planning and thrive in high-energy environments, race organizing offers a satisfying and dynamic career path. It's a venture where personal passion meets professional opportunity, making each race a hallmark event in your local fitness calendar.
How much you can make: $95,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Virtual Run Events started as a small community project with just $1,000, but has now raised over $860,000 for charities all over the world through virtual races which have become increasingly popular, with their aim being to raise $1 million by the end of 2021.
18. Start a house party organizing business
19. Start a tie dye party business
20. Start a roller race business
21. Start a trash art auction business
22. Start an upcycled furniture business
Are you looking for a unique and eco-friendly business idea? Look no further than starting an upcycled furniture business! Upcycling is the process of taking discarded or unwanted items and giving them new life by repurposing them into something functional and beautiful.
Starting an upcycled furniture business involves finding unwanted or unused furniture, such as old dressers, desks, or chairs, and giving them a fresh look. This can be done by sanding, staining, painting, or repurposing the furniture with different hardware or embellishments. The end result is a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that is not only functional but also adds character and charm to any room.
One tip for running a successful upcycled furniture business is to have a clear vision and aesthetic. Develop a consistent style that is easily recognizable and appealing to your target market. This can be achieved using a specific color palette or incorporating certain design elements such as mid-century modern or farmhouse styles.
Another tip is to have a solid online presence. Today, most consumers search for products and services online, so it’s essential to have a website and social media accounts to showcase your work and connect with potential customers. It’s also essential to have high-quality images of your work to showcase your craftsmanship and help attract potential customers.
In addition, it’s essential to have a wide variety of items on hand. Creating various furniture styles, sizes, and price points will appeal to a broader range of customers and make it more likely that they will find something they love. Lastly, have excellent customer service, and be responsive to clients’ needs, even if it’s more work than expected.
Starting an upcycled furniture business is a fulfilling and innovative way to turn discarded items into something beautiful and valuable. It is also a great way to help the environment by keeping unwanted items out of landfills and giving them a new lease on life. With a clear vision, consistent aesthetic, and strong online presence, your upcycled furniture business can be a success.
23. Start a roller race business
24. Start an under-privileged school business
25. Start a tree planting service
Planting trees on your property is an excellent long-term investment. While trees will take years to grow, the profits from a tree farm can be enormous.
Luckily, the tree planting business does not require much daily work, so do not take much of your time.
If you are interested in starting a tree farming business, you will need a piece of land you do not plan to use soon.
26. Start an alcohol free club business
27. Start a graffiti removal business
Are you interested in starting a graffiti removal business? Great choice! This is a great way to make a positive impact in your community and earn some extra income.
So, what does a graffiti removal business entail? Essentially, your job will be to remove graffiti from buildings, walls, and other surfaces in your area. Removing graffiti can be done through various methods, such as pressure washing, sandblasting, or specialized graffiti removal products.
You’ll need a few key things to start your graffiti removal business. First, you’ll need to purchase or rent the equipment you’ll need, such as pressure washers, sandblasters, and protective gear. You’ll also need to research and buy effective and environmentally friendly graffiti removal products.
In terms of operating your business, you’ll need to advertise your services to potential clients and negotiate prices with them. You’ll also need to schedule and coordinate your work with clients and be prepared to travel to different locations.
Starting a graffiti removal business is an excellent opportunity to make a difference in your community. It is also a good opportunity to earn some extra income. Just be sure to research, invest in the right equipment, and be prepared to work hard and make your business a success!
28. Start an animal saving business
Saving animals from harm while making it a business might sound like an emotional pitch, but it’s rooted in solid strategies and community impact.
An animal saving business focuses on rescuing stray, abandoned, or mistreated animals and finding them forever homes. It involves creating a network of foster homes, working with veterinarians, and organizing adoption events to ensure every animal gets the care and love they deserve.
This line of work is not just about compassion; it's about coordinating logistics, building relationships with donors and volunteers, and managing the daily needs of the animals. The operational side includes training staff and volunteers, maintaining accurate records, and marketing through social media and community events.
If you're passionate about animal welfare and ready to put in the hard work, this business offers a fulfilling opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of countless animals. It’s a challenging yet deeply rewarding endeavor for those willing to commit.
How much you can make: $400/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Dog with Blog, a content-driven pet adoption network in India led by founder Abhishek Joshi, has successfully driven 900+ dog adoptions using social media and content marketing, and has an active community of 116k fans across its social handles.
29. Start a vices campaign business
30. Start a green living business
How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)
31. Start a pawn brokerage business
A pawn broker lends money in exchange for personal property that the broker can sell if the loan is not repaid by a specific time. Pawn brokers charge interest rates, often higher than the banks.
To start a pawn brokerage, open a physical shop where loan applicants will drop their valuables. Develop a binding contract so loanees can sign their commitment when applying for the loan.
32. Start an in-home senior care business
With the busy lifestyle, family members are often absent and employ in-home caregivers to look after the elderly parents.
Caregivers assist the elderly with personal care routines, including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and exercising. Caregivers also oversee medication & prescription usage and administer medicine.
Researchers anticipate a shortage of more than 100,000 caregivers for the elderly in the next decade. Therefore, starting an in-home senior care business is a great opportunity if you enjoy caring for the elderly and spending time with them. You can choose to work as an overnight caregiver or whichever work schedule suits you.
How much you can make: $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
The CareSide scaled to $5 million in revenue over 3 years by utilizing a data-driven approach to sales and marketing, with a focus on Google Adwords and Facebook ads, and implementing extensive automation into back end systems.
33. Start a fundraising consulting business
A fundraising consulting business helps organizations, non-profits, and individuals raise money for various causes or projects.
As a consultant, you would identify funding needs and develop and implement a strategy to meet them, including researching funding sources, writing grant proposals, organizing fundraising events, and managing donor relations.
To start this business, you will need a strong understanding of fundraising, a network of potential funding sources, and possibly licenses or certifications.
To be successful, you will need excellent communication and networking skills, the ability to think creatively and strategically, and an understanding of industry trends and best practices. You will also need to manage your business finances, including setting service prices and tracking income and expenses.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $150,000/month
How long does it take to build: 300 days (?)
ConnectionPoint's founder and CEO, Daryl Hatton, shares his experience of launching an enterprise-class crowdfunding-as-a-service platform that has helped almost 200,000 projects in 40+ countries raise over $200 million, and offers valuable insights on taking a focused approach to growth and pivoting the business to solve customer problems.
34. Start a first aid kits business
35. Start a health care campaign business
36. Start a storage facility
Starting a storage space business is an accessible venture that allows you to utilize unused space effectively.
Additionally, you can start this with little capital. If you have available space, such as a warehouse, garage, or unused rooms, you can repurpose it for storage purposes.
Apart from renting out storage space, self-storage facilities make money by selling locks, cardboard boxes, packing supplies, insurance, and other products.
Pros of starting a storage space business include the following:
- Great profit potential
- Growing demand
- Low overhead compared to other businesses
- Requires minimal management
How much you can make: $100,000 — $2,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $9,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
How a logistics company grew its revenue over 300% in 2 years, starting with just 2 vans and 25k+ square feet of warehouse space, and focused on relationships, efficiency, and building trust with its customers.
37. Start a charity auction service business
38. Start a stress/anxiety coaching business
Feeling overwhelmed by modern life and seeking a meaningful career change? Consider launching a stress and anxiety coaching business.
This venture focuses on helping individuals manage their stress and anxiety through personalized coaching sessions. Your role would be to equip clients with practical tools and techniques to improve their mental well-being.
The increasing awareness of mental health makes this business both impactful and in-demand. You'll need a background in psychology or related fields, as well as certification in stress management coaching. Building a client base involves marketing your services online, networking, and perhaps offering free initial consultations.
With commitment and proper training, you can create a rewarding career that genuinely helps people lead healthier, more balanced lives. Creating tailored strategies and witnessing your clients' progress can be profoundly satisfying, making this a fulfilling business for those passionate about mental wellness.
How much you can make: $300,000/month
This case study article follows Vicki Mayo, who developed a stress-reducing wearable product for her company TouchPoint, which achieved over $2 million in sales in the first couple of years and has been used for stress relief over 3 million times.
39. Start a charity casino organizing business
40. Start a disabled people foundation
41. Start a thrifty resale business
42. Start a refitting houses business
43. Start a charitable information business
44. Start a first aid training business
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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.
