Do you want to start an outsourcing business but want to go niche and be unique? If YES, here are 50 best outsourcing business ideas.
According to Investopedia, outsourcing is the business practice of hiring a party outside a company to perform services and create goods that traditionally were performed in-house by the company’s own employees. This business practice is done most times to cut the cost of performing the duty in-house.
It’s very important that you conduct your market research to ascertain the exact services that are in highest demand. For instance, check to see if most businesses outsource their human resource functions like payroll or employee training, or if they seek outside vendors to help with more manufacturing-focused tasks like product design and development.
From your detailed market research, you should be able to decide if you want to focus on a particular area or if you want your company to offer a wider variety of services.
You should also consider how much money is required to start your new business and obtain the financing either from outside backers or your own personal investment. When calculating expected expenses, remember to factor in what you will need to pay for business permits, facility costs including leases, staff wages and equipment.
It’s also advisable that you create a working marketing plan which will outline the ways you plan to reach your target market and how your outsourcing company can help clients facilitate their day-to-day operations.
Best Outsourcing Business ideas
1. Marketing Services
A lot of entrepreneurs know what they want and how they want to market their own ventures. Implementing that plan and achieving that goal can be a very daunting task—especially for new entrepreneurs with little, or zero, marketing experience.
You can start a business that works with small businesses who don’t have the in-house incentives to actualize their marketing goals. You can start by writing their blogs, firm up their SEO strategy, generate ad campaigns, deploy inbound marketing tactics, and do whatever it takes to help them achieve their goals.
2. Bookkeeping and Accounting
If you are a licensed CPA or very good with business accounting software, there are a lot of less math-friendly entrepreneurs who could use your help in keeping their personal and business finances in order. If you start a bookkeeping business, you will have to process invoices and payroll, compile expense reports, and more.
If you have a CPA license, you can help business owners file taxes, generate balance sheets and other accounting documents, and make professional recommendations about your client’s bottom line. This is a very lucrative outsourcing related business idea you can start if you have the skills.
3. Legal Service company
Although no one expects an outsourced legal squad to protect their company in the court of law, other sorts of legal complications are sufficiently handled by overseas firms. Litigation support, document review, analysis/drafting, and legal documentation are all samples of legal tasks that businesses confidently entrust to experienced outsourced teams every single day.
Have it in mind that outsourcing all legal services is particularly advantageous to smaller industries who can rarely afford to employ expert legal professionals.
4. Tech consulting and implementation
If you’re a tech expert who’s searching for a lucrative business to start, I bet you just hit the jackpot. As technology becomes more and more crucial to the success of businesses, whether it’s simply a video surveillance system or the more high-tech implementation of things like machine-learning systems, your technological experience can pay off big time.
You can start this business from the comfort of your home and grow it. But the key to succeed in this business is to have the capabilities to handle any tech problems and marketing your business accurately.
5. Business Consulting
If you’ve been in the business world for a long time and have gathered enough experience and expertise, you can start a business that helps companies out of tight situations through advise and consulting. This is huge idea where you can turn your years of experience into a new career as an independent consultant.
You can get paid to speak at industry conferences or events, serve on a board of advisors for a fledgling business, or lend your expertise to shape the strategy of an existing business on a contract basis. Whatever your field of expertise, starting your own business consulting firm is a great way to make a sizable income while working on your own terms.
6. Data Storage company
The innovation of the internet has continuously increased the requirements for both online and offline data storage. It has moved companies in the united states to start considering outsourcing their storage provisions and management to the new kind of online service providers.
If you decide to start this business, note that your firm will be charged with providing computer storing space. Besides the storage itself, you will have to provide archiving and backup, remotely managed storage, and also consolidate data from numerous locations so as to enable efficient data sharing.
7. Repair services
This sort of outsourcing business is needed by businesses and even home owners. More often air-conditioning breaks down, roof starts leaking or the elevator gets stuck. What these mean is pure business opportunity, even when economic times seem shaky.
No matter how much your potential clients try to delay the much needed repair, they will still come to you for help eventually. But have it in mind that this services require specialized training, skills and equipment.
8. Social Media Management
With the Internet taking over our everyday lives, social media has become a specific marketing specialty that a lot of entrepreneurs know can make or break their businesses, but very few of those entrepreneurs know how to use it to their own benefits.
If you’re glued to your phone, Instagram all your meals, and carry out most of your conversations in 280 characters or fewer, consider cultivating a client base of business owners who need help managing their brand’s social media platforms.
9. Research and Development Company
You need to understand that businesses outsource all sorts of research and development tasks. Every single thing from pharmaceutical research, financial research, customer demographics, and even market research is handled by outside teams coached in the numerous methodologies of every field.
Note that the most essential task from the firm’s standpoint is finding an outsourcing firm specializing in the unique sort of research needed for the task in question. You just have to research your local market and find the best research and development niche to fill.
10. E-commerce consulting
Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular in this new age and it doesn’t seem like cooling down, the more reason why a lot of people are starting e-commerce businesses or adding an e-commerce component to their existing companies.
If e-commerce is one of your skills or specialties, you can become a consultant and offer other business advice and guidance on improving their websites, taking product photos, writing product copy, managing checkouts and customer mailing lists, and more.
11. Website Development & Design
Before the advent of the Internet, no one knew what a website was or how important it will become. The Internet has taught entrepreneurs that their business needs at least a basic website to succeed, but many business owners don’t know how to set one up for themselves.
Which is why if you’re an IT and design wizard, you can start this business and never run out of clients as long as you do everything right. You can start by using platforms like Upwork or Envato to gain your first clients, then use your portfolio and word-of-mouth recommendations to grow your client base (and eventually boost your prices).
12. Eco-consulting
You can comfortably start a business that helps other business owners make their offices more environmentally friendly by starting an eco-consulting service. Your duty here will be to evaluate processes and offices, offering solutions to make them more environmentally friendly.
Note that it could also mean advising a switch to energy-efficient appliances or simply implementing a recycling program. Become a certified eco-consultant to boost your credibility with potential clients.
13. Business Planning Service
writing a business plan is a very important stage in the life of any business, but it’s a process that not all entrepreneurs can implement. This is why one of the best outsourcing related business ideas for seasoned business owners ready for their next venture is a business planning service.
If you know how to write a business plan — including business funding plans, market analysis, competitor research, and so on—clients will be willing to pay for your services.
14. Photography
In the United States, professional photographers are highly demanded for weddings, corporate events, family portraits, and more. Because you can start and run this business from comfort of your home (with the right tools, of course), a freelance photography business has relatively low start up costs.
Another advantage of this business is that you’re in charge of your client load and schedule. It gives you time, make you independent, bring in more income, while doing what you enjoy and love. Have it in mind that professional photography is a business you can run as a side business while working full-time elsewhere.
15. Product development business
You need to understand that helping any product become a successful commodity takes a lot of careful steps. It also takes systematic researching and strategizing to figure out ways to improve and market an offering. Products acquired for development should be inspiring, because passion for a product and belief in its value is crucial.
Also note that surveys and customer feedback is a must in any product’s development process. Making a product saleable means that you can’t be satisfied until the product begins to return a predictable profit.
16. PR firm
There are many firms that offer this service in the United States, but as businesses become more specialized, so do their public relations needs. Fair trade, organic, local, B Corps and other kinds of businesses with a socially responsible bent need public relations firms that will market their story to a whole different audience and deliver a different kind of message.
This business needs careful research and you will need to choose a specific niche if you hope to achieve success. Note that PR firms that specialize in a certain business category will attract clients who know they need a specialist.
17. Video Editing firm
In this jet age, every person has a smartphone, and this means that they have the power to make videos and post them on the Internet. Entrepreneurs are beginning to understand that in-house videos might not display their businesses in the best light.
This is because their clients are going to evaluate their service’s/product’s quality based on the quality of their videos. Presently, business owners are trying to save themselves the hassle and time by outsourcing video editing to outside firms. This is an open niche which is lucrative and ready for take over.
18. Event Planning
In this new age, companies are beginning to hire freelance event planners to manage the design, logistics, and coordination of pulling off major events. As an individual who loves coordinating your kid’s birthday or your dad’s retirement party, start offering your Type-A services to partiers in your community or within your personal network.
You can start this business from home and grow it to become very profitable. Note that you just need to pull off one great party to start, and your event-planning business will take off with all those word-of-mouth recommendations.
19. Private security company
A private security company is a business that provides both armed and unarmed security related services and expertise to both private clients and public clients at an agreed fee. Private security companies provide services like providing security guards (bodyguard, guard dog, parking security and security guard services) and patrol services etc.
An average private security outfit can go as far as providing advanced special operations services for special clients when they make demand of it.
You need to understand that determination and diligence are some of the factors that can determine if you will succeed in your pursuit. Have it in mind that you will have numerous challenges in this business and how you scale through them will decide how lucrative your company becomes.
20. App Development
App development is not an easy process and should not be taken lightly. For an app to be termed successful, it must perform a useful function, boast of appealing design features, and be easy for users to navigate. Things and especially technology change rapidly these days.
Everyone now prefer swift language for iOS app development and Firebase infrastructure for Android app development.
To succeed in this business, the people you hire must be familiar with today’s technology trends. Have it in mind that your potential clients are always on the lookout to Outsource their app development to a company with experience and good work records.
21. Event Space
First and foremost you will need to research your local market: If there’s a demand for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and fundraisers, but few venues to host those events, you can start an event space yourself. You could offer planning services along with the venue, or partner up with another local event-planning business to become the ultimate party-planning team.
22. Safety Consulting Business
It’s very important to note that safety is another area that few small companies can afford to staff full time. Yet, small businesses are forced to comply with increasingly complex safety regulations. A workplace safety consultant could provide their expertise without being on the payroll on a full-time basis.
You can start this business if you have the needed knowledge and capabilities. You will need to always be current and keep up with all necessary industry trends. This business is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and you can take hold of this huge demand and earn extra income.
23. Interior Decorating
Instead of always redecorating your living room, you can make use of your designing expertise to start this lucrative business. Not just homeowners, but companies in the United States are always looking to create a comfortable workplace for their employees.
They pay for the services of external decorating firms to help them achieve this goal. To start out, make use of your personal network to offer help decorating residential and commercial spaces. You can charge an hourly fee to clients for your work, partner with your favourite furniture stores or manufacturers to work on commission, or a combination of the two.
24. Logo Design
According to statistics, logo design service demand is on the rise especially with small business always wanting possible means to set themselves apart from the competition; having a unique eye catching logo is a definite way to achieve that.
Can you design eye catching logos; then get into the logo design service business. You can even partner with a brand consultant or marketing consultant to get more business. This business is recession proof and can bring in a lot of profits when done right.
25. Call centres
This is also a very good option, especially with the growing importance of excellent customer services and customer retention.
Your company might have to take care of hundreds of inbound or outbound calls a day for your clients. You will have to manage the hiring and training of customer service agents, maintaining customer service software and infrastructure and taking care of the day to day customer service operations.
Businesses in the United States can outsource a segment of their customer service operations or outsource the entire segment. Once the decision has been made to outsource the customer service operations and the contracts are signed, many companies take a hands-off approach to overseeing operations and trust that their service provider will take the reins.
26. Graphic Designing
Graphic designing remains one of the most lucrative outsourcing related businesses you can start from home. The growing need for attractive marketing campaigns and promotions has boosted the demand for graphic design services.
A lot of industries depend on graphic design service providers to develop cost-effective and attractive promotional campaigns. The list includes advertisements, public relations materials, promotional boards, billboards, and other promotional activities.
27. Business opportunity research company
Reports have it that the demand for this business has been rising drastically within the past few years. Most entrepreneurs who started this business are earning substantial income, all they do is to keep an eye on forthcoming trends, needs or business opportunities; prepare a plan around it and sell it to major corporations.
Have it in mind that they sometimes come up with product ideas and business ideas with market potential; then they sell such ideas to major corporations to develop. If such activity interests you, then you can start a business opportunity research service business.
28. Residential management company
Anyone in the real estate business or someone who owns a rental property would tell you wholeheartedly that managing buildings is a daunting task. Unfortunately, the recession has turned a lot of homeowners who couldn’t sell their houses into unwitting landlords with no experience dealing with tenants or maintaining a rental property.
So if you think you’re good with people, have a knack for real estate and can manage difficult situations, a property management company would be a great way to get your feet wet when running your own business.
29. Calendar Management firm
Outsourcing calendar management tasks and scheduling tasks to a virtual assistant is of value both in terms of saving businesses more time and bringing extra value to their company.
Instead of spending valuable time every week setting up appointments or pursuing those who are not interested in speaking with them, business owners now choose to Outsource this service and focus on other things. You can start this business as a side hustle and make extra income helping businesses manage and make appointments.
30. Brand consultancy and management
If you really think that you have the capability to help businesses build their brand awareness and create a corporate identity, then you can start a business advising small businesses how to build a brand or increase their brand awareness. Note that you can also offer these unique services to big firms if you can market yourself to them.
You need to understand that the success of every business, whether small or big, rests on the effectiveness of its marketing strategies. This is why marketing is seen as the life of any business and why marketers are always in huge demand. Advertisers will remain relevant for as long as advertising itself remains important to business owners.
31. Photo Editing services
You business will specialize in editing or retouching existing photos for your clients. Note that the services you offer in this business may range from simply cleaning up blemishes or lighting issues all the way to complex Photoshop work.
You need to understand that this business is a key part of any community because of the constant need to have good-looking photos for publications, seasonal cards, social media profiles, and more. This business is ideal for photographers, because they already know a lot about upgrading a photo via specific editing. This business can also be good for those with extensive skills in editing software such as Photoshop.
32. Content Writing
Content writing is the core of all online marketing strategies. Native advertising content, social media content, blog content, and so much more, are all essential components of online marketing.
Indeed without written contents, gaining prominence on social media networks and search engines will be difficult, and we all know these are essential sources of referrals for any company. Businesses are beginning to understand that content writing doesn’t always come naturally; it takes efforts and practice.
Business owners who want to do it themselves spend lots of hours coming up with topics, doing research, writing, editing, and proofreading, while all these are hours they could spend growing their company in other ways’. You can start a company that relief these business owners from this huge responsibility and get them to pay you an attractive fee to give them the very best.
33. Packaging Box Manufacturing
Every product after manufacturing needs a box for packaging and not every business or company has the capabilities to make them. An attractive and durable packaging box is a must needed product when it comes to getting the product to end users. This business can be very lucrative of you live in a metro city
34. Trade staffing agency
Indeed there are a lot of staffing agencies in the United States, but ask any contractor you know and you’ll find out it’s hard to find skilled labourers. Although traditional head hunters generally focus on white-collar jobs, but an employment agency focused on building a database of qualified trade candidates would likely have lots of business.
35. Data entry services
To effectively do this job, you need to be very fast and very accurate at typing, if not, you’ll find that you’re doing too much work for very little money. According to reports, this business can be considered a low-paying job, so you’ll have to be prepared to do a significant amount of work within short periods of time to make a good income.
The ease of starting a data entry business means a good amount of Competition. Have it in mind that doing a good job and satisfying your customers can take a lot out of you, but if you’re willing to put in the hours, you will get to enjoy a flexible schedule in the end.
36. Paper bag Manufacturing
Paper carry bags are common packaging materials. The textiles and cloth merchants, dry cleaners, bakers, grocers, stationers, sweet sellers are the major businesses that outsource this service. They do this so they can have enough time to focus on making and marketing their goods. This business is not as simple as it sounds but can be very profitable with the right equipment and expertise.
37. Transcription Business
Your potential clients in this business are many because transcripts are necessary in fields such as law, medicine, and business. Have it in mind that the nature of the work means that it is manageable with limited time, as one can easily start doing it in their spare time or as a part-time job before undertaking it as a full-time job.
This business is great for those who like to work at their own schedule and pace. While certain transcription services, such as court reporter, may require stricter scheduling requirements, most of the work involves transcribing audio or video that has been provided to you.
38. Logistics service company
As businesses grow, it needs change and most entrepreneurs run out of space before they put together the finances to upgrade to another. At this point, outsourcing logistics becomes a great option. In this business you will have to handle warehousing and delivery activities.
You will have to respond quickly and scale to meet demand more easily and cost-effectively. Note that your potential clients will pay for your services because they want to focus their time on selling, merchandising, and growing their business.
39. Recruitment Agency
This business idea is very interesting and easy to start. You can deliver services like Permanent Staffing, Temporary Staffing, RPO from your recruitment firm.
Companies will always need to hire employees. They may choose to hire new employees on their own or use the services of a recruiting company. It is believed that outside recruitment firms are more skilled at advertising, screening suitable applicants and checking references.
40. Tax Filling and Preparation Services
Tax returns preparations are pretty time consuming and needs a specific set of skills. This is why entrepreneurs in the United States are always on the lookout for good tax consultants who can lift their tax filing burden for them. This business is very profitable especially in a competitive market like the United States.
In case your client uses any reliable online accounting software, they will have to simply grant you temporary access. Tax filing and preparation services costs are pretty much standardized nowadays so services like Service Tax, Value Added Tax, and TDS return preparation can be outsourced comfortably in the United States.
41. Sales Training
You need to understand that the success of every business rests on the amount of sales it can generate. A lot of companies hire or outsource sales training so they can have the time to take care of other business activities. To succeed in this business you have to convince your clients that you can embed their company values and ideas in your training strategies.
42. Lead generation and customer service
It’s very important to state that sales calls are often a matter of numbers; more calls equal more sales and leads. Once the initial outreach has been made, closing the sale can be handled by the internal sales force. A talented salesperson’s skills can be better utilized to close sales and handle clients, rather than make cold calls. Entrepreneurs are beginning to understand this and it has created a huge business gap which you can fill.
43. SEO Consulting
When people search for things in search engines, websites that appear and come on the first few pages are the sites that usually attract maximum traffic. You can comfortably start this knowledge-based business with low-cost investment. Actually, you require only a computer with internet connection to start this home-based business.
44. Book ghost writer
Self-published books are all the rage among businesses trying to promote themselves online. But one just have to ask, how many small business owners can put together an engaging book? That’s where your ghost writing business comes in.
Downloaded content will only continue to grow and so, therefore, will the need for people to write all those books. You can start a business that helps these entrepreneurs put together an amazing book and earn substantial amount doing so.
45. Software Development
A software development company is a company that develops and distributes computer software that can be used for a variety of purposes such as learning, instruction, assessment, calculation, entertainment or the performance of a multitude of other tasks.
You need to understand that succeeding in this business requires funds, a knowledge of programming, marketing expertise, and technical support skills.
Companies in this business usually operate under a variety of business models like charging license fees, charging by transactions, or offering subscriptions. Software products that are offered for free usually get their revenue from advertisements or through other related services such as training or technical support.
46. SlideShow Making
This outsourcing related business idea is good for a creative and passionate mind willing to work with images using some specific software. With the creative application, you can easily turn simple photographs to a memorable and presentable slideshow for your client.
You can start this home-based business only by having a computer with some specific software and internet connection. The demand for this business is growing rapidly and doesn’t seem to be cooling down.
47. Healthcare Business Process Services
Healthcare providers face a lot of challenges in their industry and their work can often become hindered by the administrative element of the profession. In this business you will have to offer customized solutions to help remove the complexity of these tedious tasks.
Your business will have to provide healthcare BPO services and healthcare support services which enrich resource allocation, boost financial performance and increase the effectiveness of providers. Your emphasis in this business should be towards delivering reduced administration costs for healthcare providers and enhancing patient satisfaction.
48. Payroll Processing Company
For a business with a small team, they won’t experience any difficulties managing payroll in-house. But once a company starts growing past 15 employees, handling monthly payrolls can eat up lots of time, meaning that keeping track of worker’s applicable tax returns, bonuses advances, loan advances, joining and exit formalities, and employee vacations may soon become hard work.
This is why most companies in the United States outsource this service. You can comfortably start a business that offers this service and grow it to become very huge.
49. Email Management Services
Note there are two major reasons why businesses consider outsourcing email management. First and foremost, everyone understands the value, reach, and power of emails today. In this current age, lots of businesses find themselves with email services that are increasingly unproductive, and inherently inefficient.
Secondly, emails and how they are received have changed. In the last couple of years, it was always considered to be a regular exercise for most companies to manage their own Email servers. But this is no longer the case. Handling an in-house Email server consumes a significant amount of Network Administrator time and lots of precious bandwidth.
As a matter of fact, lots of administrators are having a hard time keeping up with the ever-changing Email technology aimed to fend-off spammers. You can start this business comfortably and make enough money if you plan and market your business right.
50. Newsletters service firm
Entrepreneurs are beginning to understand the benefits of using company newsletters to boost their relationships’ with customers and improve sales. Yet business owners with a full understanding of the benefits of company newsletters may still have a hard time coming up with a quality piece each time.
Some might even lack resources altogether. You need to understand that putting together an impressive newsletter (a newsletter containing fascinating, excellent written articles with useful information) is an extremely labour-intensive procedure.
These articles need to be formatted, proofread, edited, and drafted with keen care and attention to detail. Doing this over and over again can turn out to be a time-consuming task for a company whose specialty is not producing content. This creates a very profitable demand in the business world as your target market in this business can be unquantifiable.
In Conclusion
Most businesses can handle normal daily activities but sometimes need external help to take on new projects that don’t justify another employee. Other businesses are just struggling to manage day-to-day business, and others are looking for ways to get more done or cut expenses in this challenging economy.
Outsourcing is becoming a necessity in this age and you can leverage this growing need if you so wish. There are a lot of business ideas to consider when planning to start an outsourcing firm, but have it in mind that conducting a detailed research is very important if you want to succeed.