Australia’s small business landscape is evolving fast—and the numbers prove it. In 2025, over 2.5 million small businesses were registered nationwide, accounting for nearly 98% of all Australian businesses and employing about 44% of the private workforce (ABS, 2025).
The rise of the gig economy and digital platforms has made it easier than ever to launch a business with minimal upfront investment. Below, you’ll find 30 of the best small business ideas for 2026—each chosen for their low startup cost, strong growth prospects, and suitability as a side hustle or full-time ventures. Each entry includes a brief explanation of why it made our list, backed by current industry data and trends. Where relevant, you’ll also find citations to help you dig deeper or verify the stats.
Let’s dive into the best opportunities—real-world cost and profit data is included, and we’ll address the “NDIS” and “Aged Care” sectors, which remain among Australia’s most in-demand small business areas (NDIS Quarterly Report, 2025).
# | Category | Business Idea | Key Reason for Inclusion |
1 | Low-Cost | Virtual Assistant | Remote admin support; demand rising (source: Upwork, 2025) |
2 | Low-Cost | Social Media Manager | 21M active users; strong growth (source: Statista, 2025) |
3 | Low-Cost | Micro-Consulting | Fast-growing freelance sector (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
4 | Low-Cost | Specialized NDIS Cleaning | Double-digit sector growth (source: NDIS, 2025) |
5 | Low-Cost | Support Coordination (NDIS) | 600K+ participants; high demand (source: NDIS, 2025) |
6 | Low-Cost | Mobile Car Detailing | Car care market growing (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
7 | Low-Cost | Dog Walking & Pet Sitting | 69% households own pets (source: Animal Medicines Australia, 2025) |
8 | Low-Cost | Resume Writing | Career changes rising (source: SEEK, 2025) |
9 | Low-Cost | Bookkeeping & BAS Services | SMBs need affordable accounting (source: CPA Australia, 2025) |
10 | Low-Cost | Online Tutoring | Online tutoring up 300% (source: The Educator, 2025) |
11 | Side Hustle | Airbnb Co-Host | Listings up 25% (source: AirDNA, 2025) |
12 | Side Hustle | Weekend Photography | $1B industry (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
13 | Side Hustle | Farmers Market Stall | Low-barrier retail (source: Australian Farmers’ Markets, 2025) |
14 | Side Hustle | Delivery Driving | 200K+ drivers (source: Rideshare Drivers Assn, 2025) |
15 | Side Hustle | Home Baking / Meal Prep | Food market grew 18% (source: Food Industry Australia, 2025) |
16 | Side Hustle | Weekend Gardening | $7B annual spend (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
17 | Side Hustle | Kids’ Party Entertainment | High demand post-pandemic (source: Party Industry Assn, 2025) |
18 | Side Hustle | Music Lessons | Online up 150% (source: MTAA, 2025) |
19 | Side Hustle | Vintage Clothing Flipping | Sustainable fashion trend (source: Vogue Business Australia, 2025) |
20 | Side Hustle | Mobile Phone Repairs | High-margin, strong demand (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
21 | High-Growth | AI Implementation Consulting | 23% annual growth (source: CSIRO, 2025) |
22 | High-Growth | NDIS Provider Business | 600K+ participants (source: NDIS, 2025) |
23 | High-Growth | Aged Care Support Services | $35B by 2027 (source: AIHW, 2025) |
24 | High-Growth | Green Energy Consulting | Rooftop solar leader (source: Clean Energy Council, 2025) |
25 | High-Growth | Custom Software Development | Digitization surge (source: Deloitte Access Economics, 2025) |
26 | High-Growth | SaaS Development | $300B+ global market (source: Gartner, 2025) |
27 | High-Growth | Online Education Platform | 10% annual growth (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
28 | High-Growth | Digital Marketing Agency | 7% annual growth (source: IBISWorld, 2025) |
29 | High-Growth | Franchise Ownership | Proven systems, high demand (source: Franchise Council, 2025) |
30 | High-Growth | Telehealth & Online Therapy | Post-COVID boom (source: Australian Digital Health Agency, 2025) |
31 | Sustainability | E-Waste Recycling Pickup | Addressing 500k tonnes of annual waste (source: Planet Ark) |
32 | Sustainability | Sneaker Restoration | Circular fashion growth (source: eBay AU Trends) |
33 | Sustainability | Sustainable Floristry | Demand for locally grown, plastic-free flora |
34 | Home Service | EV Charger Installation | Adoption rates doubling annually (source: Electric Vehicle Council) |
35 | Home Service | Energy Efficiency Auditing | Addressing high electricity prices in AU |
36 | Home Service | Smart Home Automation | $2B market in AU (source: Telsyte) |
37 | Home Service | Gutter-Vac Services | Essential for bushfire and flood prevention |
38 | Home Service | Acoustic Soundproofing | Rise of the “Home Office” stipend |
39 | Home Service | Tiny Home Consulting | Addressing the 2026 housing shortage |
40 | Home Service | Mobile Car Detailing | Focus on waterless tech for drought-prone areas |
41 | Lifestyle | Mobile Dog Hydro-Bathing | High-spend pet luxury segment |
42 | Lifestyle | Professional Organising | Popularized by the “downsizing” trend |
43 | Lifestyle | Local Tour Guiding | Rise of domestic “Staycation” culture |
44 | Lifestyle | Ancestry & Heritage Research | Personal data and history boom |
45 | Lifestyle | Indoor Plant Styling | “Plant Doctor” services for remote workers |
46 | Lifestyle | Artisan Pet Food Bakery | Health-conscious pet owners (source: Pet Food Industry AU) |
47 | Lifestyle | Life Admin Assistant | High demand from busy “sandwich generation” parents |
48 | Lifestyle | Personal Wardrobe Audit | Move toward capsule wardrobes and ethical fashion |
49 | Lifestyle | Niche Equipment Hire | “Sharing economy” growth for camping/tools |
50 | Lifestyle | Mobile Document Witnessing | Addressing the decline of local bank branches |
Virtual assistants support businesses remotely with admin, scheduling, and communication. Demand is rising as more companies embrace remote work and outsourcing [(Upwork, 2025)]
With 21 million Australians active on social media, businesses need help managing their online presence, making this a growing field [(Statista, 2025)]
Specialists can offer project-based advice to SMEs unable to afford big agencies. Consulting is one of Australia’s fastest-growing freelance sectors [(IBISWorld, 2025)]
NDIS cleaning providers cater to a rapidly growing market supporting people with disabilities. The NDIS sector has seen double-digit annual growth [(NDIS Quarterly Report, 2025)]
Estimated Startup Cost: $2,000–$5,000 (equipment + insurance)
Coordinators help NDIS participants connect with services. With NDIS participants surpassing 600,000 in 2025, demand is strong [(NDIS Quarterly Report, 2025)]
Australians are keeping cars longer; mobile services offer convenience and high margins. The car care market is projected to grow steadily [(IBISWorld, 2025)].
Pet ownership rose to 69% of households in 2025, driving ongoing demand for reliable pet care [(Animal Medicines Australia, 2025)]
With career changes on the rise post-pandemic, job seekers increasingly seek expert help with resumes and interview skills [(SEEK, 2025)]
Small businesses need affordable accounting services, especially with changing tax laws. This sector is in constant demand [(CPA Australia, 2025)]
Parents are investing more in private tutoring to help kids catch up post-COVID. Online tutoring demand rose 300% since 2020 [(The Educator, 2025)]
Airbnb Co-Hosts help property owners manage guests and turnovers. The demand for short-term rental support has surged as Airbnb listings in Australia grew by 25% in 2025 [(AirDNA, 2025)]
Event photography is a flexible weekend business, with a growing market from weddings and corporate events. Australians spend over $1 billion per year on photography services [(IBISWorld, 2025)]
Local produce and handmade crafts are increasingly popular, with market stalls allowing for low-risk entry into retail [(Australian Farmers’ Markets Association, 2025)]
Rideshare and delivery driving offers flexible income, with over 200,000 active drivers in Australia as of 2025 [(Rideshare Drivers Association of Australia, 2025)]
Home baking and meal prep businesses cater to the booming food delivery and specialty foods market, which grew 18% post-pandemic [(Food Industry Association of Australia, 2025)]
Australians spend over $7 billion a year on garden services and tools, making this a reliable weekend business.
Family events and parties are back in full swing, with party entertainment services in high demand across major cities [(Party Industry Association, 2025)]
Music education rebounded after COVID, with online lessons growing 150% since 2021 [(Music Teachers Association of Australia, 2025)]
Sustainable fashion is booming and vintage reselling offers low barrier to entry with growing consumer interest [(Vogue Business Australia, 2025)]
Australians replace phones less often, fueling the repair market. Repairs are a high-margin, skill-based business.
AI adoption is accelerating in Australia, with businesses seeking consultants to streamline operations and improve productivity. The AI market is forecast to grow 23% annually through 2028 [(CSIRO, 2025)]
NDIS providers deliver essential care and support, with the sector seeing a participant base surpassing 600,000 in 2025 and ongoing funding increases [(NDIS Quarterly Report, 2025)]
An aging population and government reforms have fueled rapid growth in aged care services, projected to reach $35 billion in value by 2027 .
Australia leads the world in rooftop solar, and green energy consulting is in demand as businesses seek to cut emissions and lower energy bills [(Clean Energy Council, 2025)].
Businesses continue to digitize operations, driving high demand for custom software solutions and app development in nearly every industry [(Deloitte Access Economics, 2025)].
Australia has become a SaaS hub, with cloud-based services growing rapidly across all business sizes, and global SaaS revenues surpassing $300 billion in 2025.
Online learning is mainstream, with Australia’s e-learning market projected to grow 10% annually through 2028 [(IBISWorld, 2025)].
Businesses are spending more on digital marketing as online competition intensifies. The industry is expected to grow by 7% annually [(IBISWorld, 2025)].
Franchise models offer proven systems and branding. Sectors like NDIS, aged care, and cleaning are especially lucrative [(Franchise Council of Australia, 2025)].
Telehealth use soared after COVID-19, with government support and growing mental health awareness making this sector a high-growth [(Australian Digital Health Agency, 2025)].
That’s a wrap on the best small business ideas for 2026! If you’ve read this far, congrats—you’re already ahead of 98% of “maybe someday” entrepreneurs in Australia.
Whether you’re chasing the next unicorn or just want to cover the mortgage (and maybe a cheeky flat white), remember: fortune favours the bold, but Google reviews favour the reliable. Pick your lane, start small, and back yourself—Australia’s future is built on people who just give it a crack.
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