Top 5 Business Ideas in Ohio

Starting a small business in Ohio is an exciting prospect and more Ohio businesses are being formed every day. Our Top 5 Business Ideas in Ohio list represents the most popular small business ideas in Ohio.

Exploring your options? Check out additional small business ideas.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services.

Best Ohio Business Ideas

One of the best things about starting a Ohio business is being your own boss. Whether you’re looking to build an empire or just earn a little money on the side, there’s a business idea that will allow you to achieve your goals as an entrepreneur.

Top 5 Business Ideas in Ohio:

  1. Towing Company
  2. Airbnb Business
  3. Campground
  4. Lawn Care Business
  5. Car Dealership

If you have a business idea picked out, check out our simple, step-by-step Form an LLC in Ohio guide to get your new small business started.

1. Towing Company

Vehicles break down, are left stranded and are illegally parked every day. A tow truck business transports these vehicles to repair shops, impound lots and other locations as directed. Some tow truck businesses also offer emergency roadside assistance.

Learn how to start a tow truck business.

Find a Web Domain for Your Ohio Business

Securing a web domain and creating a quality website is important for the overall success of an online business. You can search for an available domain below:

Find a Domain Now

After you have your perfect business idea and secure a domain for your business, one of the best things you can do for your small business is create a website.

2. Airbnb Business

Running an Airbnb is a great way to earn some extra income. You can rent out extra space in your home on a regular basis or open your entire house or apartment when you’re out of town. Some people with an additional property have opted to go the Airbnb route rather creating a traditional rental property.

For those with properties in popular locations, this can be a very profitable venture. Generally speaking, though, the earning potential of an Airbnb varies considerably based on frequency of rental and geographic location.

Learn how to start an Airbnb business.

3. Campground

If you love the outdoors and some hard work, you could start a campground business. Whether you have land or are purchasing land, you could start enjoying the great outdoors and working for yourself as soon as you get everything set up. You'll provide a place for people who are passing through on their way to another destination and for those who want to enjoy some time connecting with nature. Campers use all sorts of shelters from tents to fully contained RVs.

Before you start a campground business, you'll need the knowledge and willingness it takes to do many things, including accounting, repairs, road maintenance, plumbing, electrical maintenance, and management. You may be able to farm some of these things out, but it is much more cost-effective to do these things yourself.

Learn how to start a campground business.

4. Lawn Care Business

Unlike a gardening or landscape design business, a lawn care business focuses on just that - caring for lawns. This means everything from mowing to clearing to fertilizing to weed and pest control. The main focus is to maintain beautiful, lush grass. Business owners should be in good physical shape and able to work long hours outdoors.

Typical startup costs for a lawn care business are less than $3,000 for equipment (mowers, leaf blowers, etc), marketing, and transportation. There is a good deal of competition in this business, so maintaining positive reviews and strong word of mouth recommendations will help you stand out among the crowd. With hard work and a solid client base, you can expect to bring in around $30,000 to $50,000 per year, with this rising as you add more to your crew and expand your operation.

Learn how to start a lawn care business.

5. Car Dealership

It’s a business that relies on buying wholesale and marking the vehicle up for retail. Sometimes, a car dealer contracts directly with a car manufacturer to sell new vehicles. However, used car dealers often obtain their stock from the secondary market through auctions. A dealer may operate exclusively online, but it’s still more common to keep a physical showroom to display the vehicles.

Learn how to start a car dealership business.

Importance of SEO for Businesses

Once you've chosen the best business idea for you, determining a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is essential for small business success. Good SEO allows Google (and your customers) to more easily find your business website and the services you offer.

Here are some of the benefits of SEO for your business:

  • Increases traffic to your business website
  • Improves user experience for your customers
  • Strengthens brand awareness and recognition

You can learn more about the basics of SEO and how to implement a strategy by reading our Beginner's Guide to SEO.

Other Important Services for Small Businesses:

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