Most profitable businesses in the UK

There’s no secret formula to success when starting a business, but some industries have shown a track record of being profitable even in difficult times. Read on where we’ll cover seven profitable industries you could start a business in and see what makes them stand out against the rest. 

What small businesses are most profitable?

With the factors above in mind, we’ve put together a list of businesses and industries that, with the right expertise and application, have the potential to make you a profit. 

1. Ecommerce 

An ecommerce business is a business that sells entirely online and typically doesn’t have a physical store. Which means you’ll avoid costs like rent and business rates.  

With a market value of £222 billion in the UK (that’s predicted to grow to £594 billion by 2029), it’s clear that there’s profit to be made with an ecommerce business. 

Depending on the type of product or service you sell, your startup costs can be relatively low. Outside of the product you sell, your main expense is usually the platform you host your site on. 

2. Pet grooming 

With 38 million pets in the UK, it’s no wonder there are lots of profitable pet grooming businesses. And with the startup costs being relatively low, it’s a great business to start from scratch.

But what makes pet grooming even more appealing is the potential for your social media marketing. ‘#Doggrooming’ has garnered over seven billion searches on TikTok and some channels have gained huge followings. 

When marketed well, pet grooming offers you the chance to build a totally separate income from social media on top of your usual earnings. Filming your process, before and after pictures, and sharing funny stories on social media can help grow your business and bring in additional revenue. 

@girlwithedogs

Count the escape attempts 😂 #scottishfold #cat #cats #kitty #cutecat #groomersoftiktok #funnyvideos

♬ original sound – Girl With The Dogs

3. Personal trainer 

If you have a passion for fitness, are organised, and are good at motivating others, you could make a profitable career as a personal trainer. The fitness industry is worth £2.9 billion in the UK and personal trainers make up £635 million of that. 

The flexibility of the job means that you can go in lots of directions. You can set up a gym, do at-home sessions, or rent a space at a local leisure centre. And you have the freedom to fill out your work day with as many sessions as you want – it’s not a profession bound by nine to five working hours. 

And as your expertise grows, you can charge more for your time and make your business even more profitable. 

4. Social media marketing 

Lots of business owners struggle to find the time to market their business. But with 63 per cent of marketers saying that social media advertising drives their highest return on investment (ROI), it’s no wonder social media consultants are in demand. 

There’s so many ways you can sell your skills as a social media expert. You can consult for businesses, create posts for companies as a freelancer, or package your knowledge as an online course. 

And with social media marketing only becoming more prominent, it makes it an exciting and profitable industry to start a business in. And because of the online nature of the work, you can usually work remotely and avoid additional costs like rent.

5. Cleaning services 

We called out the cleaning industry as one of the biggest growing industries in 2022/23 and it’s a huge market that’s quickly modernising. With some estimating that the global industry will be worth £486 billion by 2030. 

Most cleaning businesses have the potential to be profitable businesses, whether you’re working on local houses or bigger corporate cleaning jobs. Our guide explains the variety of ways you can run a successful cleaning business. 

But similarly to grooming businesses, there’s a huge online following for cleaning videos where people show the process of their cleaning projects. Which means you have the chance to have a profitable marketing strategy alongside a successful business. 

@_kaylaargyle_

ASMR sink cleaning 🫧🚿🧽 #asmr #asmrsounds #asmrvideo #CleanTok #cleaningtiktok #cleaninghacks #cleaning #asmrcleaning #sinkclean #sinkcleaning #clean #cleaningtok #cleaningvideo #satisfyingvideos #satisfying #fyp #foryoupage

♬ original sound – KAYLA ARGYLE

Another interesting aspect of this industry is that there’s room for innovation too. Companies like Housekeep show how cleaning businesses are no longer limited to just local jobs and are more online-focused than ever before. 

6. Dropshipping 

Dropshipping is essentially an ecommerce business but when a customer buys your product, you’ll purchase it from a supplier who’ll then send it to the customer.

Finding success dropshipping comes with some trial and error but with the market value of the industry estimated to be £192 billion, those with a good eye for trends can make a profitable business dropshipping. 

7. Virtual assistant 

There’s a seemingly endless list of tasks for small business owners to do when running their business. This is why many turn to virtual assistants for help, making it a very profitable profession.

Because you’ll be supporting other entrepreneurs with their businesses, your startup costs and overheads will be low – which makes it easier to turn a profit. 

And your profitability isn’t tied into lots of variables like products, supply chains, office space – people are paying for your time and services. But more importantly, you can set your own rates. 

Which profitable business idea appeals most to you? Let us know in the comments below. 

More useful guides for small business owners

• What is an SME?
• 11 best online business ideas
• Best small business bank accounts
• What is public liability insurance?