29 Profitable Commission-Based Business Ideas (2023)

Looking for commission-based business ideas? Then you discovered the right article. Here we will talk about the 29 best commission-based business ideas.

Fortunately, there are many ways to start a business and make money based on commission. If you play your cards right, you will be able to get good profits from the commission business.

Some of these business ideas have a better ability to lead than others, and also you can start these businesses with no barriers and work for a limited period of a week.

I also tried to focus on businesses that have some kind of thing online, because that’s what I like the most. So, here you will also find some beneficial ideas on which you can work online.

29 Best Commission-Based Business Ideas

1. Used Cars and Bike Commission Business

The used cars and bike business are one of the most profitable and beneficial commission-based business ideas you can go for. You can buy cars and bikes then resale them to the buyers and earn your commission.

For example, if you buy a bike for $2000 and sell it to a buyer for $2500 then your commission will be $500. It is one of the best commission businesses, but you need to have good skills in dealing with people.

Communication skills are very important in this field as you need to convince the buyer to buy cars and bikes at the rate at which you can earn a commission.

2. Stock Broker

As we all know stock brokering is a commission-based business. In this business, you help people invest in securities and stocks so that they can get good returns and from that, you also get a commission.

You have to decide your commission in advance with the client so that after getting a good return from the investment you will get a commission as decided.

Basically, you act as a middleman between buyer and seller, and when someone buys a stock, transaction fees are charged and you will get your commission because you buy and sell stocks on the behalf of your client.

3. Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is currently the trending commission-based business idea that you can do to earn maximum profits as a commission.

In dropshipping, you sell products and services of others, and when buyers buy it from you the original owner gives you a commission for selling their products.

This commission-based business is in trend but is also very competitive, so before you go into this business make sure you choose the right products for reselling.

4. Investment Advisor

As mentioned above the stockbroker, can help in investing people in various schemes like mutual funds, bonds, etc.

An investment advisor is something different from just a stockbroker, you give people advice about the investment decision they make and get you money for your service. Here the money for your advisory service is your commission.

This business is very profitable because there are many people who did not know where to invest their money to get good returns. So you can provide services like an investment advisor to advise them about the suitable option for them to invest their money.

5. Affiliate Sales and Marketing

If you already have a website that’s driving traffic, a great way to make passive income from the content you’re already creating is through affiliate marketing.

Clickbank and Amazon are all great affiliate marketing platforms and networks that can assist you with making money from the content you already produce.

It’s a very profitable option to make money because you generate traffic and leads to the products and services of a company and when someone buys them you will get your commission.

6. Virtual Assistant

Have a knack for staying organized? If you’re a jack of all trades, you ought to consider working as a virtual assistant.

You can find great gigs on Fiverr, and become a Virtual Assistant. It can be an awesome way to make a profit and build up your professional network, and you’ll have the option to work from anywhere.

We all know that when a company grows in size they need to do some work that is only for one time such as designing a logo, data entries, etc. For that, they don’t have a full-time employee, so they hire a virtual assistant. For your services, they will give your a commission depending upon the service you provide.

7. Social Media Manager

We’re all guilty of spending an excessive amount of time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, so why not get paid to give your expertise something to do?

Many companies, especially startups or those in retail or travel, have a heavy social media presence and constantly need individuals to help build their brands online. You can find these kinds of opportunities on sites like Flexjobs and CareerBuilder.

Social media managers need to provide various services like developing strategies that will give clients to the company, managing social media accounts, and posting images regularly on the behalf of the company.

8. Google Paid Ad Specialist

If you know a thing or two about paid internet marketing, a great way to make some extra income on the side is to manage a company’s Google Ad Campaigns, and gradually start bringing on more clients as your consulting business develops.

When a company wants to advertise its products online using Google Ads is one of the best options to get clients. We all know that every company does not have the knowledge or experience to run an effective Google ad to attract customers.

For that, they hire a Google ad specialist which has experience and skills to promote your content and generate some positive results. For this service, you will charge him a commission as decided by the company.

9. Presentation Design Consultant

Truly, even the modest PowerPoint requires outside consulting once in a while. You may realize that you would happily outsource the visual layout of my presentation decks for work meetings, investor pitches, and talks.

A good presentation will convince investors to invest in your company that’s why presentation designs that have experience in the field can give you designs that will bring fruitful results.

As a presentation designer, you will charge per slide or on the total project. The commission in this business ranges from $100 to $10000 depending on your popularity and skills.

10. Travel Consultant

If you love to travel then you can also make it a business. Start with word-of-mouth recommendations from friends who realize they can depend on you for the cheapest flights and don’t forget to set up an account with platforms that pay you for your travel expertise in your available time.

Travel consultants provide services related to travel and tourism, to the general public. It includes booking hotels, cars, and travel insurance.

In a consultant business, do a proper analysis regarding which particular niche you want to start. For that, you have to talk with many hotels and restaurants, about the commission.

11. Landing Page Specialist

If you have a way with words and the ability to make keyword-friendly, beautifully designed, SEO-optimized landing pages, why not charge different companies for your services?

Indeed, even a short landing page is worth several hundred bucks in many cases. Simply look at freelance copywriters for some inspiration.

Nowadays every business needs to have a website that converts visitors into customers so a good landing page will bring customers if it has the potential to attract them.

12. Interior Design Consultant Business

Someone out there is remodelling their kitchen and has to realize which shade of granite will match best with mahogany flooring. That someone will frequently be happy to pay you for your advice, especially if you’re the kind of person that has expertise in interior design.

Nowadays it is a profitable business to start because the profit margin in this business you will get ranges from 35 to 45%. So if you have expertise in designing and decorating kitchens, houses, offices, and more, then you should definitely try this commission-based business.

The process of commission you will get in this business is simple, you just need to consult the individuals who plan to decorate their interior space, and for that, they will give the fees you have set for that design.

13. Housesitter

It’s not exactly a way to make consistent great money, however, house sitting—exactly what it seems like—is a fantastic way to live in exotic locales around the world without paying a dime in rent.

The demand for housesitters has increased particularly for house owners who have pets. It is a profitable option to start as a commission-based business because the startup cost in this business is quite low. all you need is transportation facilities.

Your job is quite simple you just need to offer customers a service where you look up pet, plants or just the house itself and the house owner will give you money for taking care of the property.

14. Property Manager

Know someone who rents out property to other people? Perhaps they could utilize a hand in managing their property. If along these lines, you can make a good amount of money on the side with relatively little work on your part.

As a property manager, you need to overseas the daily operations of the units of a real state. This business is quite profitable but at the same time is competitive, so do a proper analysis of your market and see what are the loopholes in the market and act accordingly.

Also, you need to have skills in setting and collecting rent, maintenance, and setting the budget for the property.

15. eBay Sales

Similar to selling on Amazon, eBay is a place to make money selling pretty much anything you can think of, with the added excitement of using the auction selling model to sometimes get way more than you expected for that antique baseball card you picked up at a local road fair.

To sell on eBay you need to decide what products you need for maximum commission and be aware of restrictions. It is important in this business because the products which are in demand in the market will give you more profit than the products which are in less demand except for the luxury goods.

In 2023 there are nearly 170 million users worldwide. It is the largest global online platform where people buy or sell different kinds of products in the same way you list out your products and sell them to the customers and get your commission.

16. Fiverr Gigs

Fiverr is a great place for first-time freelancers who don’t have experience and want to build up a portfolio of their work. You’ll have the option to finish simple tasks ranging from logo design to creating animations, or in any event, drawing a company logo on your forehead.

17. Web Design

Web designers are incredibly valuable for innovation companies. Web design is all about mastering the art of creating a beautiful, value-driven experience for individuals using a website or app.

There are always new websites popping up needing professional web design, and companies like Skillcrush and General Assembly have demonstrated online programs that’ll find a workable pace quickly with this career path.

Starting this business and making it profitable depends upon the knowledge and skills that you have in website design. For you to start this business you should need to analyze the niche that you are going to work. Today website designing is one of the competitive businesses because everyone knows its potential in 2023.

18. Web Development

As a web developer, you’ll build incredibly valuable skills that are in very high demand. You can find a workable place on building websites in as little as a couple of months with inexpensive or free online education programs like Treehouse and Codecademy.

Once you command information on HTML, Ruby, Python, Javascript, or CSS, you can start taking on freelance undertakings to build your portfolio while you still hold you’re all-day work.

19. Tax Preparation

It’s not the sort of employment that’s canvassed in glory, however, someone needs to make sure all the numbers add up at the year’s end. Each business and most individuals need someone with domain expertise to help prepare tax returns, especially time or asset-strapped small business owners.

Tax preparation is one of the profitable commission-based business ideas and you can earn good profits in this business.

The Income Tax School provides an array of training programs that’ll certify you with tax prep in as little as 10 weeks, and once tax season moves around you’ll have the option to charge an average of $229 per return as a freelance tax preparer, reports CNBC.

20. Commission-Only Sales

If you have a knack for connecting with individuals and the willingness to take on some risk, a commission-based freelance sales job could be an excellent fit for you.

Many startups look for part-time and commission-only salespeople, especially when they’re simply getting started. Sell for nothing yet commission and negotiate yourself a decent piece of equity, and you could profit big time if the startup succeeds. Look at Angel List and check whether an opportunity aligns with your interests.

21. Graphic Designing

While having a formal background in graphic design is going to be useful, it’s also relatively easy to learn the foundations of graphic design on your own.

An increasingly easy-to-utilize Adobe Illustrator and websites like Canva and Visme are making it so that pretty much anyone with two opposable thumbs, a bit of creativity, and motivation can get paid to create or alter images.

22. Instagram Marketing Business

Build up a following on your Instagram account and you will be approached by major brands.

If you have a huge number of devotees, you can easily charge anywhere between $500 to $5,000 per post or more. Look at this fashion Instagrammer on ThePennyHoarder, making a significant income from brand sponsorship.

23. Amazon Reselling Commission Business

Anyone can sell merchandise on Amazon, provided they have products to market. If you’re the sort to hit all the local garage sales each end of the week, there are all sorts of valuable things that can be exchanged online.

For making it successful you need great images and attractive descriptions so that when customers want to buy your product on Amazon, it catches their eye.

Its commission depends upon the product category you choose to sell on Amazon, usually, the referral commission is between 3.5% to 25% and on large appliances, it may vary from 22 to 30%.

24. Local Business Consulting

If you’ve developed valuable skill sets within your industry throughout the year, consider putting your skills to use in your spare time by offering your consulting services to local business owners.

Regardless of whether you’re a specialist marketer, business strategist, or manufacturing aficionado, there’s likely a local business owner who’s willing to pay you to assist them with solving an issue with their company.

25. Domain Reseller

As per search engine optimization domain name that matches the type of product is very helpful for recognization in search engines. One of the business fields that was born here is the resale and purchase of domain names.

The question may arise in your mind that why you should buy a domain and then resell it. The simple answer is that later you can charge more.

It means you buy a domain name at a normal price that is popular and will be famous in the future then when someone needs that name you charge even 10 times your price. It is then up to you at which price you sell the domain name.

26. Selling Photographs

This business is unique in its way. The reason is that it is a simple idea but has a big opportunity. One who has developed his website to sell photos. Then, she or he may allow people to upload photos of any kind but good quality.

When someone buys their photos on their site the price will be split between you and the website owner. The commission on this website is already mentioned if you are willing to upload your best shots and want to sell them online. Then this business is for you.

27. Insurance Agent

Becoming an insurance agent is the best commission business if you are an expert at building relationships and have excellent communication skills. As an insurance agent, you represent an insurance company and work as a mediator between clients and the insurer.

The main duty of an insurance agent is to understand the insurance needs of people and businesses and recommend plans to protect their assets and manage risks.

You can earn commissions on the policies they sell. The commission rate varies depending on the insurance type and company but is usually a percentage of the premium paid by the policyholder. Agents may also receive renewal commissions for policies that are renewed by existing clients.

It has a lucrative earning potential based on the number and type of policies sold and you have the opportunities for building a long-term client base and earning recurring commissions from policy renewals.

28. Car Salesperson

If you have a passion for automobiles then a car salesperson might be an excellent fit. Car salespersons work in dealerships or showrooms and are responsible for showcasing vehicles to potential buyers, understanding their needs, and closing sales.

You often receive a base salary plus a commission on each vehicle sold. The commission can be a flat rate per sale or a percentage of the car’s selling price. Additionally, some dealerships offer bonuses or incentives for achieving sales targets.

29. Wedding Planner

For those with a flair for creativity and exceptional organizational skills, a career as a wedding planner can be both financially and emotionally rewarding. Wedding planners assist couples in bringing their dream wedding to life by handling all aspects of the planning process, including venue selection, vendor coordination, budget management, and event logistics.

Wedding planners often charge a percentage of the total wedding budget as their commission. Some may also work on a flat fee basis or charge hourly rates for specific services.

FAQ on Commission Business

Hope this blog post helped you! Before you leave check out these interesting articles:

• Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs
• How To Start A Commission-Based Business
• Creative Product Ideas for College Students

Thanks for reading.