If you really want to start a company, you have several paths you could go. Start a small business organically and try to grow it over time. Come up with a big enough problem to solve and perhaps an investor will give you the funds to try and build the solution. Or, if you are more interested in a solo, lifestyle oriented entrepreneurial path, then you might just consider YouTube.

YouTube video content continues to grow in popularity as a source of entertainment and a possible channel to start an entrepreneurial business. Whether you believe YouTube is a platform or a marketplace, it does not matter. The reality is that it has become one of the most powerful platforms/marketplaces in the world. According to article on February, 2022 by Hootsuite, here are some of the most powerful statistics on YouTube:

– In total, the site gets 14.3 billion visits per month: that’s more than Facebook, Wikipedia, Amazon and Instagram.

– With over 14 billion monthly visits, YouTube clocks in as one of the internet’s heaviest hitters, right after its parent company, Google. “YouTube” also happens to be the third most popular search term on Google.

– 694,000 hours of video are streamed on YouTube each minute; that’s more than Netflix.

– 81% of Internet users have used YouTube.

Take a look at some of the highest paid YouTubers right now for inspiration. You’ll find that they are regular people, even some kids, who managed to grow a following that makes them millions of dollars today. Taken from an Intuit Mint article from August 24, 2022 here are some of the top entrepreneurs on YouTube today.

Mr. Beast: With estimated earnings of $54 million a year and a whopping 96.5 million subscribers, Jimmy Donaldson, aka Mr. Beast, tops the list of highest-paid YouTubers.

Markiplier: With estimated earnings of $38 million a year, Mark Fischback , also known as Markiplier, has been at the YouTube earnings game for about a decade. He only has about one-third the amount of Mr. Beast’s subscribers at 32.9 million.

Nastya: With estimated earnings of $28 million a year, The Like Nastya channel tops the list of most-viewed YouTube channels ever. Nastya’s loyal, 96 million subscribers tune in regularly.

Ryan’s World: With estimated earnings of $27 million a year, Ryan’s World is a YouTube channel that’s dominating in views, subscribers and income. Boasting 32.6 million subscribers, 10-year-old Ryan Kaji is one of the youngest YouTube entrepreneurs.

Dude Perfect: With estimated earnings: $20 million a year, The Dude Perfect channel has 57.6 million subscribers, making it the most subscribed sports channel on YouTube.

There is no denying that the world has moved to video and that YouTube might just offer the right kind of entrepreneur an amazing opportunity to start a business with little to no money. It will take hard work to succeed but others before you have become successful. Research and learn from them and perhaps give one of the opportunities below a try. Here are some of the top business opportunities you can start a business around on YouTube:

Video Content Creator: You would be responsible for creating engaging and entertaining videos that capture the attention of your audience. This could involve anything from vlogs, how-to videos, comedy sketches, or other videos like animation or short films.

Social Media Influencer: Here you would use your social media accounts on social media platforms like YouTube to promote products or brands that you love. Featured channels can be very profitable, but you have to stay active.

Gamer: This is a popular idea as there are many YouTube users and gamers out there who would love to watch others play. As a gamer, make sure you have an awesome channel banner.

Travel Show: You could film your travels and then upload the video footage onto YouTube. This would be a great way to share your experiences with others and inspire them to travel as well.

eCommerce Marketer: You can start a channel to promote your eCommerce business. This is a great way to reach new customers, make your business stand out, and increase sales.

Info-product Marketer: You can share your expertise on YouTube and create and sell info products, such as eBooks, online courses, and webinars. This is a great way to generate email marketing leads and build your brand.

Affiliate Marketer: You can promote products and services as an affiliate and earn commissions on sales. This is a great way to generate revenue from your YouTube channel.

How To Tutorial Video Creator: You can create how-to video tutorials that teach people how to do something, or put it together, while promoting the product or service you’re creating the video on and earning income.

Testing Products: You can start a business and get paid to test products and give an honest review on your YouTube channel.

YouTube Keyword Research: This business doesn’t involve creating videos. Instead, you would offer keyword research services to other YouTubers in order to help their videos rank higher.

YouTube itself was started by three former PayPal employees who ended up selling the company to Google. So, here is a startup created by entrepreneurs that is creating even more entrepreneurs. It just might be worth investigating if your interests and passions line up with the potential entrepreneurial opportunities on YouTube.