We’ve all heard stories of entrepreneurs who launched a tech startup in their garage and went on to make millions. If you have a dream of launching your own tech startup, and you need a few ideas and tips to get started, you’re in the right place.
In this article I’ll share 25 tech startup ideas—as well as tips on how to launch a business from home.
Key Takeaways
- Many successful tech startups had small beginnings.
- There are many opportunities for people who want to launch a tech startup.
- Tech startups require most of the same planning and effort to launch as other types of businesses.
25 Tech Startup Ideas
Some of the most successful technology companies began at home, in a garage. Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, and Google all began in humble garage spaces. Bill Gates founded Microsoft after he traded his college dormitory room for a small garage in New Mexico.
Especially in the early days of your business, starting a tech company at home can be an effective strategy that supports your chances of success. It allows you to minimize costs and work in a familiar environment. It’s also a safe place where entrepreneurs can build prototypes, run experiments, and work toward producing a viable product.
Technology startups find success in many different fields. Let’s look at some of the most popular small tech-startup opportunities today.
1. Drone Videographer and Photographer
Videos are becoming an increasingly important part of business and everyday life, and drone videography is one of the best ways for new photographers and videographers to stand out. This is a huge opportunity because there is a rapidly growing demand for professional videographers who can capture and edit drone videos.
Wedding and event planners hire drone operators to capture dramatic footage and images of important moments. Realtors are discovering the advantages of drone videos to advertise and sell homes and commercial properties. Businesses are finding ways to distinguish their products with high-quality aerial videos of people using those products in real life. If you enjoy flying drones and working with video, becoming a drone videographer is one of the easiest tech startup ideas today.
2. Data Recovery Specialist
Losing data when a hard drive crashes can be a serious problem for both businesses and individuals. With the help of special data recovery software and tools, you can help clients rescue lost files.
3. Social Media Influencer
The rise of social media platforms has led to a new creator economy with social media influencers at the top. Some influencers have established full-time jobs for themselves creating popular videos, writing tweets, and posting other content online. Influencers often make money from ads that are shown on their videos, as well as through paid sponsorships and affiliate marketing, or by selling their own products.
4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Agency
When people search the web for products, companies compete to get their websites to appear near the top of search results. If you have an analytical mind and enjoy writing, perhaps you would enjoy providing search engine optimization services for businesses.
5. Digital Marketing Agency
Digital marketing has many forms. Depending on the industry you serve, a digital marketing firm might offer some of the following services:
- Paid search or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves creating ads that show up when people search for keywords related to a product or service. As an advertising manager, you would create ads and ad campaigns and work to ensure that the advertising budget brings a positive return on investment (ROI).
- Email marketing involves writing newsletters, email sequences, and email campaigns that introduce customers to product updates, brand information, discounts, and other relevant news.
- Social media marketing involves developing relationships with potential customers on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and educating customers about services and products.
- Content marketing involves creating and sharing digital content like blogs, videos, and images that answer customer questions and stimulate interest in a company’s products or services.
These are all services that you can provide from home, with the help of software tools to support your digital marketing efforts. These tools typically include keyword research tools, automation tools, and project management tools to keep your tasks clear and updated.
6. Remote IT Support Services
Information technology (IT) services help businesses protect their technology and the people who use it. Depending on a client’s needs, IT services can include hardware installation, software updates, and remote technical support. As long as your startup has reliable internet access and the right communication devices, you can offer many of these services from home.
7. Cybersecurity Services
If you are a cybersecurity expert, you can provide much-needed services to small businesses that don’t have in-house security experts. Cybersecurity services include removing malware and viruses, installing software updates and patches, hardening servers, conducting penetration testing, setting up VPNs, and much more. Much of this work can be done from the comfort of your own home workshop.
8. Mobile App Development
Almost everyone has a phone these days, and the market for iPhone and Android apps is booming. As an app development startup you can take one of two paths: Either develop apps for someone else, or develop and market your own app. Some startups do both—making apps for hire in order to pay the bills while they develop their own app on the side.
9. Web Application Development
Many large and medium-sized businesses hire consultants to develop custom web applications that are used to manage business operations and data. If you have strong skills in computer programming and web technologies, you may be able to find work online or locally as a freelancer or consultant. Once you have more experience, you may want to employ others and start your own web application development agency.
10. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Startup
Many startups have found success by creating a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product. This is usually a custom web application that is created by the startup company, and access to it is sold on a monthly or annual basis. A few examples of successful SaaS products are Wix, Survey Monkey, and Zoom.
11. EdTech Startup
An EdTech startup is focused on creating an educational product that is usually marketed to parents or schools. This may be a mobile app, a web-based application, or an educational game. Some EdTech startups use AI and machine learning to create personalized learning experiences that adapt to each learner’s needs.
12. E-Commerce Startup
E-commerce companies sell products over the internet to customers looking to purchase them. While some e-commerce companies sell products directly from their own websites, others leverage Amazon, Etsy, and other third-party websites to generate customer interest. Amazon sellers can either sell products directly to customers on their own—under the Fulfillment by Merchant model—or they can use the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) model to leverage Amazon’s fulfillment infrastructure.
If operating from home, e-commerce companies need a place to securely store inventory. Many remote e-commerce businesses use on-premises storage, such as a metal shed or a prefabricated metal building as inventory grows. You will also need shipping supplies and a reliable workspace to operate an e-commerce business from home.
13 More Tech Startup Ideas
If you’re still searching for a viable idea for your tech startup, here are even more ideas:
- Artificial Intelligence Automation Specialist
- Assistive Exoskeleton Tech Startup
- Biometric Tech Startup
- Blockchain Developer
- Cryptocurrency Miner
- Drone and Robotic Farming Tech Startup
- Natural Language Processing Startup
- Residential Fuel Cell Startup
- Robotics Engineer
- Video Animator
- Video Game Developer
- Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Designer
- Wearable Tech Startup
Steps to Starting a Home-Based Technology Business
Most thriving technology startups have something in common: a solid plan for success. This plan typically describes a target audience, market research, a revenue model, and the unique value proposition that the company offers.
If you’re working from home, you’ll probably also want to separate home life from work life. Separating work and home life can help prevent burnout while balancing personal and professional tasks. If possible, keep your living area separate from your workspace to mentally separate your work from family and social responsibilities.
Let’s explore a few strategies in research, business planning, and scaling up that entrepreneurs use to create successful businesses from home.
Researching the Market
Understanding your market is one of the first steps in starting a home-based tech business. Make sure to set realistic business goals, and identify exactly how you will accomplish each objective. Adapt your products or services to current market needs and honestly assess other competitors in your market.
It’s also important to know how much to charge for your services. If you plan to offer services as a freelancer, websites like UpWork and online public job boards help you find out what successful freelancers charge for similar services. These same websites can also help you tap into a global workforce that can assist you with tasks that you want to outsource.
Creating a Business Plan
Writing a business plan can help you clarify your goals and the steps required to achieve them. A business plan should capture your vision for a successful company, along with all the factors that will contribute to its success. It’s good to account for each of these details—from your mission statement to estimated income and expenses—when drafting your plan.
Beyond the business plan itself, you may also need to complete a few administrative steps. For example, you may need to register your business, open a business bank account, and obtain any necessary permits or insurance your industry requires.
Launching Your Product or Service
The success of your tech startup depends in part on your product or service suite. Successful products and services satisfy the needs or desires of customers. Consider asking potential customers what they think of your prototypes, and take their feedback to heart when optimizing the products or services you offer.
Here are a few ways that some startups launch their products and services:
- Ads that go to landing pages with a waitlist for early access to new products
- Email marketing and influencer campaigns that spread the word about upcoming products
- A launch event or broadcast to attract greater customer attention
- Press releases and media outreach to generate public awareness
Once you’ve launched your first product or service, a good part of your success will depend on the reputation you build. Consider prioritizing user support for early users who have questions or issues in order to improve your products and build a great reputation.
It’s also important to measure success during and after your launch. Some businesses identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and review them on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. These metrics can help give you a clearer perspective on how well you’re accomplishing the goals you set for yourself in your business plan.
Scaling Up
After launch, you will probably want to scale your business. One way to scale business revenue is to expand your marketing reach and enter new markets. Some businesses increase revenue by adding new products and services.
Another way to scale up is to implement a conversion rate optimization program to help you market your products or services in a more efficient way. This is one way that tech startups often grow from a one-person dream into a multi-person team.
Launching a tech startup can be a life-changing adventure. I wish you the best in your journey. And as your business grows, if you ever need an affordable steel building to store inventory or equipment, be sure to give me a call.
