In entrepreneurship, the idea of a business running itself sounds like a dream come true. Imagine having a business that generates income, serves customers, and manages operations without requiring constant attention and effort.
Well, it’s not just a dream; there are businesses out there that can run themselves. These automated business ventures utilize advancements in technology, systems, and processes to minimize the need for human intervention. This article will explore 15 businesses that run themselves, providing inspiration and insights for those seeking to build sustainable and hands-off ventures.
Examples of Popular Businesses That Run Themselves
1. Online Store/E-commerce
Setting up an online store has revolutionized how businesses operate, and it holds great potential for automation. Two popular models that enable businesses to run themselves are dropshipping and print-on-demand.
The dropshipping business model allows entrepreneurs to sell products online without handling inventory or shipment. With automated order processing and fulfillment systems, the entire process can be streamlined from receiving an order to delivering the product. Entrepreneurs can focus on marketing and customer service while the backend operations run smoothly with minimal effort.
Print-on-demand is another self-running e-commerce business. Entrepreneurs can create custom-designed products like t-shirts, mugs, custom hoodies, or phone cases. When a customer places an order, it gets automatically printed and shipped by a third-party supplier. Integrations with e-commerce platforms make the process seamless, allowing entrepreneurs to generate passive income.
2. Affiliate Marketing Websites
Affiliate marketing is a well-known online business model where entrepreneurs promote other companies’ products and earn a percentage for each sale they generate. Two types of affiliate marketing websites can run themselves: niche websites and comparison/review websites.
Niche websites are built around specific topics and target a particular audience. Entrepreneurs can create a website with informative content and affiliate links by choosing profitable niches. With proper SEO optimization and regular content updates, niche websites can attract high traffic and a source of passive income.
Comparison and review websites are another lucrative option. These websites provide detailed reviews and comparisons of products or services, helping consumers make informed decisions. By adding affiliate links to recommended products/services, passive income streams when users purchase through their websites. Automation tools simplify link management and revenue tracking.
3. Subscription Box Services
Subscription box services have gained significant popularity in recent years. These amazing businesses curate and deliver boxes of products targeted to specific customer interests or needs. With the right systems in place, subscription box services can run themselves.
Automated inventory management and shipping systems ensure that products are always available and ready for shipment. Personalization plays a crucial role in these businesses, and by leveraging data analytics and customer preferences, entrepreneurs can create tailored experiences that drive customer satisfaction and retention.
4. Self-Service Kiosks
Self-service kiosks have become increasingly common in various industries, including food, retail, and banking. These automated systems allow customers to complete transactions or access information without staff assistance, providing convenience and efficiency.
Self-service kiosks streamline operations by eliminating long queues, reducing human error, and enabling round-the-clock service. Technological advancements allow these kiosks to accept cashless payments, dispense products, and offer personalized recommendations. By investing in self-service kiosks like Android kiosk or Windows kiosk, entrepreneurs can build a business that practically runs itself.
5. Online Courses and Membership Sites
Online courses and membership sites have become a billion-dollar industry. Entrepreneurs with expertise in a particular field can create and sell online courses on their online platforms. Once the course is developed, automation tools can handle course delivery, payment processing, and student management.
On the other hand, membership sites provide subscribers with exclusive content, resources, or services. Automation tools can manage subscription payments, access control, and content delivery, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on content creation and strategy while the business runs.
6. Robotic Process Automation
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) involves using software robots to automate repetitive and rule-based tasks. RPA can be applied across various industries, including finance, healthcare, and customer service.
These bots can copy human actions and interact with existing systems to perform tasks like data entry, report generation, and customer support. By implementing RPA, businesses can reduce operational costs, improve accuracy, and free up human resources for more valuable work.
RPA is revolutionizing how companies operate, allowing them to run themselves in many ways. Businesses can use HRM software alongside RPA, which is a great way to streamline specifically human resource tasks.
7. Vending Machine Business
With the start of smart vending machines, traditional vending machines have come a long way. These machines incorporate advanced technology such as touch screens, cashless payment systems, and remote monitoring capabilities.
Automatic inventory tracking ensures the machine is always stocked with products, while cashless payment systems make transactions seamless. Remote access software allows entrepreneurs to track sales and inventory levels, enabling timely restocking and maintenance. By leveraging smart vending machine technology, entrepreneurs can run a vending business with minimal effort.
8. Digital Publishing and Media
Digital publishing and media have become viable businesses that can run themselves. Blogging and content creation are at the core of these ventures. By consistently making high-quality content and optimizing it for search engines, entrepreneurs can attract organic traffic and generate revenue through advertisements or sponsored content.
Automated content distribution platforms make sharing content across multiple channels easy, while programmatic advertising allows entrepreneurs to monetize their digital assets. Entrepreneurs can build self-running digital publishing and media companies by building a strong online presence and leveraging automation tools.
9. Real Estate Rental Property Business
The real estate rental business is one that can be transformed into a self-running venture with the help of property management software. These tools automate various aspects of rental property management, such as tenant screening, rent collection, lease agreement generation, and maintenance tracking.
Automation saves property managers time and effort while ensuring smooth operations. Regular rent payments and maintenance requests can be handled seamlessly, allowing landlords to focus on scaling their real estate portfolio without being burdened by administrative tasks.
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10. Dropshipping Fulfillment Services
While dropshipping itself is a business model that can run itself, entrepreneurs can take it further by utilizing dropshipping fulfillment services. These services handle the entire order fulfillment process. Entrepreneurs can focus on marketing and customer service while the fulfillment service operates all the logistics. By leveraging these services, entrepreneurs can build highly automated dropshipping businesses requiring minimal effort.
11. Laundromat Business
Laundromat business owners have many advantages that allow them to operate autonomously. It has a high ROI and success rate. Laundromats have little inventory, minimizing monitoring. The demand for clean clothes makes the industry recession-resistant. Successful laundromats can easily open more sites, increasing revenue. When you run a laundromat, you also enjoy industry assistance and resources.Moreover, the inclusion of a well-thought-out laundromat business plan further enhances self-sufficiency and growth. Location and competition affect profitability, yet the laundry business model offers self-sufficiency and growth.
12. Digital Product Marketplaces
Digital product marketplaces provide a platform for creators to sell their digital products, such as e-books, digital screen software, templates, or music. Automating these marketplaces involves implementing secure payment processing, content delivery, and user management systems.
With an automated digital product marketplace, entrepreneurs can focus on attracting creators and promoting the platform while the backend handles transaction processing, content distribution, and customer support. By building a self-running digital product marketplace, entrepreneurs can generate passive income while supporting creators.
13. Mobile App Businesses
Mobile app businesses can be highly automated, especially when utilizing app templates and low-code development platforms. These tools simplify app development and enable entrepreneurs to create and publish apps without extensive coding knowledge.
Entrepreneurs can seamlessly push new features and bug fixes with automated app deployment and update systems. By implementing in-app advertising or in-app purchases, entrepreneurs can monetize their apps while they run themselves in development and maintenance.
14. Automatic Car Wash Business
A self-service car wash does well, even without constant supervision. Cleaning machines do a good job of cleaning with little help from people. Operating costs stay low, which is a great way to make money. These businesses are often profitable because it brings in more money while only needing a few people. Customers are more loyal to a company that is constantly changing and doing things that are good for the environment. Urban growth drives demand and keeps growth steady. It’s a great business for someone who wants to be their own boss.
15. Online Advertising Platforms
Online advertising platforms connect advertisers with publishers, facilitating the buying and selling of digital ads. These platforms can be highly automated with features like programmatic advertising and automatic bidding.
Programmatic advertising uses algorithms to automatically purchase and display ads based on user data and targeting parameters. Automated bidding systems optimize ad performance by adjusting real-time bids based on various factors. By building a self-running online advertising platform, entrepreneurs can generate revenue through ad transactions while minimizing manual intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Self-Running Business?
In a self-running business, you assign jobs to capable team members or automate procedures to reduce workload.
You must create systems and processes to run a self-running business without your constant involvement. You also need to establish clear standards and processes to let your team run daily operations. This self-running framework lets you focus on strategic decisions, long-term planning, and business growth.
It gives you greater freedom and flexibility while keeping the business running smoothly.
What Business Is Easy to Earn Money?
No business is easy to profit from, but some models have better profit margins and faster returns. E-commerce businesses can be profitable if they target a specialized market and offer unique products or a great shopping experience. Consulting and freelancing can be beneficial if you have in-demand talents. Another possibility is affiliate marketing, where you promote others’ products and services for commission. Market demand, competition, skills, and business growth determine how easy it is to make money.
What Is a Solo Entrepreneur?
Solo entrepreneurs, also called solopreneurs, run their own businesses. Solo entrepreneurs handle all business aspects without a staff. This encompasses business strategy, product or service creation, marketing, sales, customer service, and daily operations. Solo entrepreneurs work from home or tiny offices and can make decisions and seek opportunities depending on their ideas and goals. Although they may use contractors or freelancers for specific tasks, they own and run their own companies.
Wrap Up
While no business can run itself completely, advancements in technology and automation have brought us closer to this ideal. The 15 businesses mentioned in this article demonstrate that entrepreneurs can build ventures requiring minimal day-to-day involvement with the right systems, processes, and tools and can self-sustain. Whether e-commerce, affiliate marketing, subscription boxes, or robotics, entrepreneurs have plenty of opportunities to create businesses that run themselves, providing more time and freedom to pursue other ventures or enjoy the fruits of their labor.
