I just watched a video by Tim Richard, and he shared something that really stuck with me: after 15 years as an entrepreneur, he’s realized that the simplest business models often deliver the biggest results. His journey—full of both failures and wins—has led him to one powerful insight: businesses that don’t require deep technical skills or complex setups can be the fastest path to financial freedom.
In the video, he breaks down five ultra-simple online business ideas that anyone can start right now with just a laptop and an internet connection. What’s crazy is that Tim has built three of these into seven-figure businesses himself—no fancy credentials or superhuman business skills required. He’s actively growing a fourth and says the fifth is a rising opportunity that’s already turning complete beginners into millionaires.
Remote Home Service Businesses
The first idea he shared—and one of his earliest wins—is running a home service business remotely. Tim runs a junk removal company that serves over 40 cities across the U.S., and he manages the entire thing from his laptop.
Here’s how it works: instead of doing the actual service work yourself, you find skilled subcontractors who are great at the trade but not so great at marketing. You handle the customer acquisition and send jobs their way, then take a cut from each transaction. It’s like building an Uber-style system for local services.
He mentioned this model works with all kinds of services:
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House cleaning
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Lawn care
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TV mounting
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Junk removal
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Even niche things like pet waste removal or installing doggy doors
The real advantage? You get the simplicity of local service marketing without doing the physical labor. If you can find a niche with low competition, this model can get you to $10K/month faster than most other online businesses. Tim’s experience makes it sound incredibly doable—even if you’re just starting out.
Niche Newsletters
The second business model Tim talked about—and one he recently launched—is starting a newsletter. The idea is simple but powerful: you send out regular emails (daily or weekly) that deliver valuable insights on a specific topic your audience cares about.
What opened my eyes was the range of monetization options. You can:
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Sell ad space to businesses targeting your readers
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Offer a paid subscription
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Promote or sell products related to your newsletter’s niche
Tim gave some wild examples: Ryan Snettin runs a local newsletter in Annapolis with only 20,000 subscribers and still pulls in $320K a year just through local ads. Then there’s the Van Trump Report, a paid ag investing newsletter with 30,000+ subscribers at $600/year—over $20 million annually, all from one person.
The key to getting started is using social media to build an audience and funnel them into your newsletter. Choose a subject you’re genuinely passionate about—something you enjoy discussing anyway. That’s what makes it sustainable.
Modern Affiliate Marketing
Next, Tim dove into modern affiliate marketing—another seven-figure play he’s pulled off. While old-school blog-based affiliate marketing is trickier now (thanks to Google’s constant updates), content creator–driven affiliate marketing is booming.
Here’s the strategy: build a niche audience on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, and recommend products that make sense for your followers. You don’t need to make or ship anything yourself—just share your custom link or code, and earn commissions when people buy.
This isn’t small money either. When promoting high-ticket items—like premium furniture or digital courses—you can earn $1,000+ per referral. Tim mentioned he’s personally made thousands from single transactions, with commission rates as high as 30%.
The best part? These platforms reward great content, not just follower counts. Your very first post has the potential to go viral. It’s a super approachable model, even for total beginners.
YouTube Content Creation
The fourth business Tim’s currently building is a YouTube channel, and he made a strong case for why long-form video is such a powerful tool. Unlike short, fast social content, YouTube allows people to get to know you and your expertise.
By teaching niche topics in-depth, you attract a dedicated audience, and that opens up a ton of revenue streams:
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Ad revenue (Tim’s channel now pulls in $10K/month from ads alone)
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Online courses
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Membership groups
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Affiliate links
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Product sales
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Newsletter growth
YouTube is special because you’re getting paid to grow your brand and audience. It’s content with long-term value, which keeps paying you back over time while deepening your authority in your space.
TikTok Shop
Finally, Tim touched on a business model he hadn’t launched yet but studied closely: TikTok Shop. This one sounds like the early days of Amazon FBA or Facebook ads—a wide-open opportunity where beginners turn into millionaires practically overnight.
TikTok Shop lets you sell products directly through the app, without needing a website or complicated funnel. There are two ways to play it:
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Let other creators promote your products for a commission
The sweet spot seems to be products priced between $15 and $50—cheap enough for impulse buys, but still profitable.
Tim emphasized that this model is still relatively untapped. If you understand the TikTok algorithm and can create attention-grabbing videos, there’s a lot of room to win here as an early mover.
Tim wrapped the video with a reminder that the most successful businesses don’t have to be complex. These five models—remote services, newsletters, affiliate marketing, YouTube, and TikTok Shop—are all realistic, beginner-friendly ways to build income online. It’s all about picking one, keeping it simple, and executing consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which of these five businesses requires the least startup capital?
Newsletter and affiliate marketing typically require the lowest initial investment. Both can be started with just a computer and an internet connection, as they rely primarily on content creation rather than inventory or infrastructure. YouTube also has minimal startup costs beyond basic recording equipment.
Q: How long does it typically take to see significant income from these business models?
The timeline varies by model and execution. Remote home service businesses often generate revenue within weeks if you can secure clients and contractors. Content-based businesses like YouTube, newsletters, and affiliate marketing typically take 6-12 months of consistent effort before substantial income materializes. TikTok Shop can potentially produce faster results due to the platform’s current algorithm favoring new creators.
Q: Do I need technical skills to start any of these businesses?
No specialized technical skills are required for any of these models. Basic computer literacy and a willingness to learn platform-specific tools are sufficient. The remote home service business requires organizational and people management skills. Content-based businesses benefit from communication skills and topic expertise, but these can be developed over time.
Q: Can these businesses be run part-time while maintaining a full-time job?
Yes, all five models can start as side hustles. Newsletters and YouTube content can be created on weekends. Remote home service businesses can be managed during evenings after initial setup. Affiliate marketing can be scaled gradually. Many successful entrepreneurs in these spaces began part-time before transitioning to full-time once income justified the switch.
Q: Which business model has the highest long-term growth potential?
YouTube likely offers the strongest foundation for long-term growth because it builds a personal brand and an engaged audience that can be leveraged into multiple revenue streams. The platform’s content also has exceptional longevity, with videos potentially generating views and income for years. Remote home service businesses can scale geographically but may require more operational complexity as they grow.