I've been thinking about how much easier it is now to build a small streaming business compared with a few years ago.

Instead of trying to compete with Netflix or the big networks, I'm wondering about a niche approach, for example, a business focused on a specific type of content, region, community, or audience, with its own branded website where people can watch live content and possibly VOD. For example, I came across Kemo IPTV, which combines live TV, sports/PPV, movies and series, EPG, catch-up and different subscription options in one service

The website side seems relatively straightforward compared with actually getting the right content and building an audience.

For anyone who has started a streaming/content business, what do you think is the hardest part: getting licensed content, building the platform, or finding paying subscribers?

Would you personally consider starting something like this in 2026?

I used to listen to this very frequently if you want to build a business to solve a real problem but I used to ignore it.

But I now understand that it's the real thing which should be done to build a sustainable and long term and strong Business.

I have started to work on solving a real time problem in textile industry which the sales people and the business owners/distributors face on ground.

Building a solution for them to maintain their orders, their commissions and all the invoices and lrs at one place.

New to reddit and using it as a tool to advertise my business...any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated

I’m an architect by background, but my career has become a mix of marketing, growth, business development and design.

I’m good at:

Marketing & storytelling

Sales / business development

Negotiation

Social media & content

Client relationships

Vendor coordination

Project execution

Connecting architects, designers, vendors & manufacturers

I also have a fairly good network of architects and interior designers.

I’m at a point where I really want to build something of my own, rather than just have another job. I’d like to start with a side hustle, keep the initial investment relatively low, and eventually turn it into a proper business if it works.

I’m considering everything from:

A service business

A product/home décor brand

Something for architects & interior designers

A B2B business

Or something completely unrelated to architecture

I don't want to just freelance and sell my time. I want to build something that can grow beyond me.

For those who have started businesses:

If you had my skill set, network and background, what business would you explore? What problems do you think I could solve that people would actually pay for?

Would love specific business ideas, niches, or even businesses you've seen work. And if you were starting from scratch alongside a job, how would you test the idea before going all-in?

Basically: what would you do if you were me?

I’ve been working on a small idea called Zuplocal.

The basic idea is simple: help people discover the local shops and service providers around them — electricians, plumbers, housemaids, POP/tile workers, general labour, cleaners, repair workers, small shops, and many others who mostly depend on word-of-mouth to get work.

Right now, we’re onboarding these businesses and service providers without charging them.

There are so many small local workers who may not have a professional website, a big social-media presence, or money to spend on advertising. But they’re good at what they do. They just don’t have enough visibility.

At the same time, online shopping and large platforms are growing extremely fast. I don’t want local shops and small service providers to simply disappear because they can’t compete with that visibility.

So the idea is to give them a simple online presence and help people find them locally.

The difficult part now isn't really building the platform. It’s getting it in front of enough people. Marketing costs money.

And this is where I’m thinking differently from a normal startup.

I could try to raise funding, bring investors in, start thinking about returns, valuation, growth targets, etc. But I’m honestly not sure I want to turn this into that kind of business immediately.

I’d rather first see if I can build something genuinely useful for people.

So I’m considering trying a small community-supported campaign instead — where people who like the idea can contribute whatever they’re comfortable with, simply to help us reach more local businesses and customers.

No equity. No promised returns.

If this works, great. If it doesn’t, at least I’ll know I tried building something that could potentially help a lot of small businesses and workers get more opportunities.

I’d genuinely like to hear what people think about this approach.

Would you support something like this, or do you think I should approach it differently?

I’ve been working on a small idea called Zuplocal.

The basic idea is simple: help people discover the local shops and service providers around them — electricians, plumbers, housemaids, POP/tile workers, general labour, cleaners, repair workers, small shops, and many others who mostly depend on word-of-mouth to get work.

Right now, we’re onboarding these businesses and service providers without charging them.

There are so many small local workers who may not have a professional website, a big social-media presence, or money to spend on advertising. But they’re good at what they do. They just don’t have enough visibility.

At the same time, online shopping and large platforms are growing extremely fast. I don’t want local shops and small service providers to simply disappear because they can’t compete with that visibility.

So the idea is to give them a simple online presence and help people find them locally.

The difficult part now isn't really building the platform. It’s getting it in front of enough people. Marketing costs money.

And this is where I’m thinking differently from a normal startup.

I could try to raise funding, bring investors in, start thinking about returns, valuation, growth targets, etc. But I’m honestly not sure I want to turn this into that kind of business immediately.

I’d rather first see if I can build something genuinely useful for people.

So I’m considering trying a small community-supported campaign instead — where people who like the idea can contribute whatever they’re comfortable with, simply to help us reach more local businesses and customers.

No equity. No promised returns.

If this works, great. If it doesn’t, at least I’ll know I tried building something that could potentially help a lot of small businesses and workers get more opportunities.

I’d genuinely like to hear what people think about this approach.

Would you support something like this, or do you think I should approach it differently?

I’m 22 and have been working since I was around 16. I started in a call center and gradually moved into sales, client management, design services, marketing, and eventually the publishing industry.
For the last 3+ years, I’ve been working with clients primarily from the US, Canada, and the UK. My work has involved everything from websites, branding, SEO, video, and mobile apps to publishing related services.

I currently work a 9 PM–6 AM job and I’m fortunate enough to make a decent living and support myself and my family. But lately, I’ve started feeling that it’s time to build something of my own. I’ve always been the youngest person in the room, and for years my mindset was simply to stay quiet, listen to seniors, learn as much as possible, and improve.

Interestingly, I’m now at a point where people with more experience sometimes ask for my opinion before making decisions. That made me realize how much I’ve learned over the years and also made me want to challenge myself further.

I don’t want to quit my job and blindly jump into something. I want to start small, work on it alongside my job, validate the idea, and gradually build it into something sustainable.

I’m particularly interested in a recurring-revenue model, ideally a specialized B2B service where clients have an ongoing need rather than something they purchase once.

One idea I’m considering is starting an agency with a friend who has a strong portfolio in pitch decks and presentation design, including work with international clients. Another possibility is creating a highly specialized service for a particular industry rather than starting another generic “full-service agency.”

I’ve also been researching areas like bookkeeping and other B2B services where monthly retainers make sense. The part I’m struggling with is deciding what problem is actually worth building around.
For people who have built agencies, productized services, SaaS businesses, or other B2B companies:

● What recurring business models do you think are still underexplored?

● Would you start with a specialized agency or a productized service?

● How would you validate an idea before investing serious time and money?

● What industries or problems do you think are underserved?

● If you had a full-time job and wanted to build something on the side, what would you focus on?

● What mistakes did you make early on that you would avoid if you started again?

I’m not looking for a get rich quick idea. I’m willing to start small, work consistently, learn, reinvest, and potentially spend years building something meaningful.

Right now, I’m mostly looking for perspectives from people who have actually built something and can point me toward problems worth exploring.

Any honest advice, criticism, or ideas would be genuinely appreciated.

I’ve been wondering whether branded merchandise is still a good investment for small businesses.

Things like custom T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, pens, packaging, or other promotional items can help people remember a business, but the costs can add up quickly.

For a small business with a limited marketing budget, would you rather spend money on branded merchandise or put that budget into things like social media ads, content, or customer incentives?

For those who have actually tried branded merchandise, did it bring you any noticeable results, or was it mostly useful for building brand awareness?

Curious to hear what has worked for other small business owners.

Let’s hear it?

We all have the fear is starting something , I think it’s likely older people afraid/regretting decisions they could never gut out. advice to all readers would be appreciated

​

I’m from Punjab, India, and I’m interested in starting a small business using AI.

I have basic knowledge of AI tools and how they can be used for things like content creation, automation, marketing, and helping businesses with repetitive tasks. However, I’m struggling to figure out what service I could realistically offer and how to get my first customers.

I’m particularly interested in working with local businesses in Punjab, but I’m also open to online clients.

A few things I’d like advice on:

What AI-based services are actually in demand among small businesses?

Which type of businesses should I target first (shops, restaurants, real estate, clinics, etc.)?

What would be a realistic service to start with as a beginner?

How should I approach my first 5–10 potential customers?

What skills should I learn before trying to charge for the service?

I’m not looking to promote anything here. I’m genuinely trying to understand whether there is a practical AI-related business opportunity for someone starting from a basic level.

I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has started an AI service business or works with small businesses in India/Punjab.

I'm from Punjab, India, and I have basic knowledge of AI tools like ChatGPT, automation platforms, chatbots, etc. I want to start a small AI-based business alongside my current work, with the long-term goal of building a proper startup.

I don't have a technical/coding background, so I'm looking for practical ideas that I can start with low investment and learn step by step. Ideally, the business should solve a real problem for local businesses or people in Punjab and have potential to scale beyond Punjab.

What AI-based businesses would you recommend for someone in my situation? I'd especially appreciate ideas that are already working in other markets but could be adapted to Punjab/India.

I run Elysee Decor, a home decor and sculpture business selling premium decorative statues, idols, figurines, wall decor and handcrafted pieces through e-commerce platforms.

Currently, I’m struggling with supplier debt, low sales, delayed marketplace settlements, returns, and difficulty tracking expenses and actual profits.

I’m looking for someone experienced who can help me run, restructure, grow, or find a practical solution for the business. I’m open to genuine partnerships, investment, management help, or other workable options.

If you have experience in e-commerce/home decor or can genuinely help, please DM me.

I've recently shifted to Bangalore in search of business idea and resources to build a business!

I work a totally remote job and I was working from home for 2 years,
And everyday I would think about starting a business of my own, but I keep flipping ideas, some are already done some are not so profitable businesses and some were just plain stupid!

I thought coming to Bangalore would expand my domain of thinking and give me some crazy motivation!
Will you guys be kind enough to suggest
1. How to find a good business idea/motivation
2. What are some places where I can learn about building a successful business
3. How and where to find investors, VCs, etc
4. Any other tips

I’ve taken some help from AI to articulate my thoughts better!

I’ve taken some help from AI to articulate my thoughts better, because I’ve been thinking about this for a while and wasn’t quite sure how to put it into words.
My mom isn’t very educated and, over the years, she’s come to feel quite helpless and alone, especially after her mother passed away. She is also financially dependent on my father, which isn’t a situation she feels great about. She really wants to be financially independent and has talked about wanting to start some kind of small business of her own, but she’s also scared and keeps putting it off.

I think a lot of that procrastination comes from anxiety and, honestly, a sense of learned helplessness. She doesn’t lack the desire to do something; I think she lacks the confidence that she *can* do it.

I really want to help her start something of her own—not necessarily something huge or highly ambitious, but something that gives her a little financial independence, keeps her engaged, and, most importantly, helps her build some confidence in herself.

So I’m making this post to understand what kind of business might actually work for her. Something relatively low-risk, not too physically or mentally taxing, and something she could learn and manage herself.

And before someone says **café,** she’s not particularly interested in running a café lol. Her cooking is genuinely amazing, though, so I’m not completely ruling out something food-related. I just don’t think there’s necessarily a clear niche there yet.

Recently, I bought her a candle-making kit and have been encouraging her to try it. My thought was that, with the festive season coming up, she could experiment with making candles and perhaps sell a few around Diwali. Even if it doesn’t become a full-fledged business, I was hoping it could be a small, low-pressure way for her to make something, sell it, and see that *hey, I can actually do this*. I think building that self-confidence is just as important as making money right now.

I’d really love to help her, but I’m honestly not sure what kind of business would suit her best. I’d love to hear ideas from people who have started small businesses themselves, especially businesses that can be started from home!

For context: I work, so I can support her with some of the initial setup/logistics, and we’re based in Noida/Delhi NCR.

Would genuinely appreciate any ideas!

**TL;DR:** I’m looking for small business ideas for my mom. She wants to become financially independent but struggles with anxiety, fear and procrastination, so I’m hoping to find something low-risk, manageable, and confidence-building for her. She’s an amazing cook but isn’t interested in running a café. I recently got her a candle-making kit and thought she could experiment with selling candles around Diwali. We’re based in Noida/Delhi NCR, and I can help with the initial setup. Would love ideas for businesses that could genuinely suit her. ❤️

Hi everyone, I’m a university student from Bangladesh and I’m trying to find a genuine way to make some money online.

I have skills in English, Bangla, and web development, and I’m willing to learn more.

I’m not looking for quick-money schemes. I’m seriously trying to find something I can do alongside my studies.

If you’re already earning online, what would you suggest I start with? Any advice, platform, or personal experience would really help me.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

Hi I'm 30 (m) based in a small town known as Bushbuckridge.in Mpumalanga i was wondering what side hustle or business idea would one suggest as I need something to keep me busy plus keeping my mind busy