I Ranked the Most Profitable Businesses to Start Before 2026
In this episode of the Growth Stacking Show, Dan Martell analyzes 15 different business models, ranking them from best to worst based on their speed to market, ease of implementation, profitability, and potential for sale. He examines various opportunities including online courses, AI automation agencies, YouTube channels, and social media marketing agencies, discussing the strengths and limitations of each model.
The episode also covers important transferable skills that entrepreneurs can develop across different business ventures, such as copywriting and paid advertising expertise. Martell addresses potential pitfalls in the current business landscape, including his concerns about certain NFT and crypto projects, while highlighting which business models show promise for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start ventures before 2026.
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1-Page Summary
Business Model Ranking and Evaluation Criteria
Dan Martell evaluates 15 business models based on four key metrics: speed, ease, profitability, and sellability. He organizes these models into tiers ranging from S (No-brainer) to F (Scammy), offering insights into each model's potential and limitations.
Business Model Analysis
In his evaluation, Martell finds that online courses rank highly for their quick profit potential and impressive 97% profit margins, though they may lack long-term sellability. AI automation agencies show promise with quick initial returns but face uncertainty due to advancing AI capabilities. YouTube channels, while slower to monetize, offer lasting skills and potential sellability. Social Media Marketing Agencies (SMMA) prove quick to profit and potentially sellable when properly structured.
Martell notes that traditional models like dropshipping face tough competition, while ghostwriting offers quick initial income but limited scalability. He identifies that web design agencies, though easy to start with modern AI tools, may face declining value as technology advances. Virtual assistant agencies, while simple to launch, face similar challenges from AI advancement.
Highlighting "Meta Skills" Useful Across Multiple Business Models
Martell emphasizes the importance of developing transferable "meta skills" such as copywriting, paid advertising, and AI expertise. He argues that these skills remain valuable even if specific ventures fail, serving as foundational capabilities that entrepreneurs can leverage across different business models and opportunities.
Warnings About Potentially Scammy or Low-value Business Opportunities
In his analysis, Martell specifically cautions against NFTs and crypto projects, noting that more than half of NFT projects may be scams. He also criticizes network marketing models that prioritize selling business opportunities over legitimate products, warning of potential legal complications and questionable practices in these sectors.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Online courses may have more long-term sellability than suggested if they are regularly updated and adapted to market needs.
- AI automation agencies could pivot their business model to stay relevant despite advancements in AI technology.
- YouTube channels might not always provide lasting skills or sellability due to changing platform algorithms and viewer preferences.
- SMMA's profitability and sellability could be overstated if market saturation or changes in social media algorithms occur.
- Dropshipping could still be viable with unique product offerings and strong supply chain management.
- Ghostwriting can be scalable if the business model includes a team of writers and a diversified client base.
- Web design agencies might maintain or even increase in value by offering personalized services that AI can't replicate.
- Virtual assistant agencies could differentiate their services to include tasks that AI cannot perform, maintaining their value.
- The value of "meta skills" might be overstated if market demand shifts or if oversaturation occurs in those skill areas.
- NFTs and crypto projects, while risky, can be legitimate and innovative investment opportunities if due diligence is performed.
- Network marketing models can be legitimate business opportunities if they focus on selling quality products and maintain ethical practices.
Actionables
- You can diversify your income by learning and applying meta skills such as copywriting or paid advertising to various online platforms. Start by offering your services on freelance websites or creating content for your own blog or social media to practice and showcase your skills. For example, write ad copy for small businesses on platforms like Upwork or create a series of instructional posts on LinkedIn about effective advertising techniques.
- Consider starting a YouTube channel focused on teaching a skill you're proficient in or passionate about. This could range from cooking to coding, as long as it provides value to viewers. Begin by outlining a content plan, researching what viewers in your niche are looking for, and then producing simple videos with your phone or webcam to get started.
- Evaluate and potentially avoid high-risk ventures such as NFTs and crypto projects by conducting thorough research before investing time or money. Instead, focus on building a portfolio of work in more stable areas that interest you. For instance, if you're into art, you might create digital prints to sell on established marketplaces like Etsy or Society6, where the risk of scams is lower and customer trust is higher.
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Business Model Ranking and Evaluation Criteria
Dan Martell ranks 15 business models based on speed, ease, profitability, and sellability, placing emphasis on "meta skills" like copywriting, paid advertising, and AI that are essential across various business ventures.
Dan Martell Ranks 15 Business Models on Speed, Ease, Profitability, and Sellability
Martell categorizes business models into S (No-brainer), A (Knowledge Needed), B (Decent, Not for Everyone), C (Questionable), and F (Scammy) tiers and evaluates them on the criteria described.
- Online courses: Rated highly for speed, as they are quick to make the first dollar, and for ease, because they are considered easy to learn though often overcomplicated. They are extremely profitable with a 97% profit margin but less sellable long-term.
- AI automation agency: Speediest to the first dollar with a hot market for AI automation and easy to learn principles. Though it is highly profitable, there is a risk that AI will outperform human capability for automation, making it hard to build a sellable future asset.
- YouTube channel: Not fast to make the first dollar with possible extensive effort before monetization. Skills gained are lasting, with potential sellability for successful channels.
- SMMA: Quick to make the first dollar, easy to learn, and profitable if you do most of the work. It could be sold, especially if a productized service is built.
Business Models Categorized: S (No-brainer), A (Knowledge Needed), B (Decent, Not for Everyone), C (Questionable), F (Scammy)
- Dropshipping: Tough against competition, not fast to make the first dollar, and challenging to learn. While the margins can be good, the business is somewhat sellable but needs reinvention.
- Ghostwriting: Quick to make the first dollar especially if talented in writing. However, it's not highly profitable due to it being a form of time-selling, and sellability of the business is almost unheard of.
- Day trading and stocks: Making the first dollar can be fast but comes with a high-risk profile and is not easy to master. Most individuals lose money, however, a successful market beater could build a sellable hedge fund.
- Virtual assistant (VA) agency: A quick way to make money with simple learning curve but low profita ...
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Business Model Ranking and Evaluation Criteria
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Online courses may have a high profit margin, but the market is saturated, and success often requires a significant marketing budget and expertise.
- AI automation agencies may face increasing competition as more players enter the market, and the rapid pace of AI development could make it difficult to maintain a competitive edge.
- YouTube channels require a substantial time investment and content creation skills, and the platform's algorithm changes can significantly impact visibility and revenue.
- SMMA (Social Media Marketing Agency) success is often dependent on the ability to adapt to rapidly changing social media landscapes and algorithm updates, which can be challenging.
- Dropshipping faces not only tough competition but also issues with supply chain reliability, and customer service challenges can impact profitability.
- Ghostwriting's profitability can vary widely based on reputation and client base, and it can be scalable if structured correctly.
- Day trading and stocks involve a significant amount of knowledge, and the potential for loss is high, making it an unsuitable business model for many people.
- Virtual assistant (VA) agencies may struggle with scalability and face intense competition from freelancers and automated solutions.
- Web design agencies may still offer value through custom designs and personalization that AI cannot replicate, especially for complex or unique brand requirements.
- Print on d ...
Actionables
- You can diversify your income by learning meta skills like copywriting and paid advertising through free online resources. Start by creating a blog or social media presence where you practice and showcase your copywriting skills. Use free ad credits often offered by platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to get hands-on experience with paid advertising. This will not only improve your skill set but also serve as a portfolio for potential clients or employers.
- Explore the potential of a vending machine business by conducting a local survey to identify high-traffic areas lacking in vending services. Use tools like Google Forms to collect data on preferred locations and product choices from the community. Based on the survey results, approach businesses or property owners in the identified areas to discuss the possibility of placing a vending machine on their premises.
- Enhance the sella ...
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Highlighting "Meta Skills" Useful Across Multiple Business Models
Martell stresses the importance of cultivating certain "meta skills," which he believes are not only foundational but also highly transferable and critical for long-term success across various business models.
Martell Sees Copywriting, Paid Advertising, and AI as Valuable "Meta Skills" Across Business Models
Martell espouses that certain capabilities, which he refers to as "meta skills," lay the groundwork for success regardless of the specific business venture. These skills include copywriting, paid advertising, and AI—and Martell sees them as particularly valuable across different business models due to their broad applicability and ability to synergize with other areas of business.
Meta Skills Lay a Foundation For Success, Being Highly Transferable Even if a Venture Fails
He emphasizes that these meta skills are investments in an entrepreneur’s future that compound over time. For instance, AI knowledge not only has direct application in fields like web design, where entrepreneurs can leverage tools and no-code AI platforms to enhance their work, but it also acts as a safety net of sorts. Martell underscores that even if the initial business does not succeed, the learned meta skills remain with the entrepreneur as valuable assets that they can stack for fut ...
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Highlighting "Meta Skills" Useful Across Multiple Business Models
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While meta skills are valuable, they are not the only determinant of success; industry-specific knowledge and expertise are also crucial.
- The effectiveness of paid advertising as a meta skill may diminish over time as consumer behavior and technology evolve.
- AI as a meta skill requires continuous learning and adaptation due to its rapidly changing nature, which may not be feasible for all entrepreneurs.
- Overemphasis on meta skills might lead to a lack of depth in any one area, which can be detrimental in fields where specialized knowledge is key.
- The assumption that meta skills are a safety net may lead to overconfidence and underestimation of the risks involved in business ventures.
- The value of meta skills like copywriting could be challenged by emerging technologies such as AI-driven content creation.
- The focus on online course creation as a meta skill may not apply to entrepreneurs in in ...
Actionables
- You can start a learning journal to track your progress in meta skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Dedicate a notebook or digital document to reflect on daily or weekly experiences where you applied these skills, noting what worked, what didn't, and how you can improve. This reflection process will deepen your understanding and application of these skills in various contexts.
- Engage in cross-disciplinary projects or hobbies to practice transferring meta skills between different areas. For example, if you're learning about data analysis, try applying it to a personal interest like sports or cooking. Analyze baseball statistics to predict game outcomes or experiment with recipe modifications and track the results. This approach helps you see the practical value of meta skills in diverse scenarios.
- V ...
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Warnings About Potentially Scammy or Low-value Business Opportunities
Martell raises concerns about business models that have a high potential for scams or provide low value, singling out practices such as NFTs, crypto projects, and network marketing.
Martell Warns Against Potentially Scammy or Low-value Business Models Like NFTs, Crypto Projects, and Network Marketing
Despite not directly discussing NFTs, crypto projects, or network marketing in the provided transcript chunk, Martell's broader discussion points to the risks associated with these models.
Legal Issues and High Scam Rates Make NFT/Crypto High-Risk
Martell places NFTs and crypto projects in the F Tier, signifying them as highly scam-prone. According to him, out of a thousand NFT projects, more than half are likely scams designed to grab money. Furthermore, he indicates that these projects can lead to legal complications as people have faced repercussions for effectively selling unregulated securities, leading to people losing their investments. While not explicitly mentioned in the provided transcript chunk, these issues highlight the high risks inherent to the crypto and NFT space.
Martell Criticizes Network Marketing For Promoting Opportunities Over Legitimate Products
Network marketing, Martell argues, can appear ...
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Warnings About Potentially Scammy or Low-value Business Opportunities
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Clarifications
- NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain, representing ownership of a specific item or piece of content. They have gained popularity in art, gaming, and collectibles for their ability to provide proof of ownership and scarcity in the digital realm. NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded like physical assets, but their value lies in their digital uniqueness and authenticity.
- Cryptocurrency projects involve the creation and development of digital currencies that operate independently of central authorities like governments or banks. These projects often introduce new cryptocurrencies or blockchain-based systems for various purposes, such as financial transactions, decentralized applications, or smart contracts. Cryptocurrency projects can range from legitimate ventures to potential scams, with varying levels of transparency and regulatory compliance. Investors should exercise caution and conduct thorough research before participating in any cryptocurrency project.
- Network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing (MLM), is a business model where individuals earn income through direct sales of products or services and by recruiting a team of distributors. These distributors earn commissions not only from their own sales but also from the sales made by the distributors they have recruited. Network marketing companies often emphasize building a network of distributors to expand sales and grow the business. The success in network marketing typically relies on building relationships, effective communication, and sales skills to generate revenue.
- Selling unregulated securities involves offering investments that do not comply with securities regulations set by governing bodies. These regulations aim to protect investors by ensuring transparency and reducing fraud in financial markets. Engaging in the sale of unregistered securities can lead to legal consequences due to violating laws that govern the issuance and sale of investment products. Such actions may result in penalties, fines, or legal actions by regulatory authorities.
- Legal complications in the crypto and NFT space arise due to regulatory uncertainties and the potential for projects to be classified as unregulated securities. This can lead to legal ...
Counterarguments
- NFTs and crypto projects represent innovative technologies with legitimate use cases, such as digital ownership, art, and decentralized finance, which can offer value beyond traditional systems.
- Many reputable companies and artists have successfully used NFTs to enhance the value of their products and engage with their communities.
- The crypto industry is working towards self-regulation and compliance, with many projects seeking to adhere to legal frameworks and improve security and transparency.
- Network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing (MLM), is a legitimate business model for many companies, which allows individuals to earn based on personal sales and the sales of their recruits.
- There are numerous examples of network marketing companies that have been in business for decades, offering quality products and a sustainable source of income for their distributors.
- Legal actions in the network marketing space often lead to improved practices and regulations that benefit both the companies and the consumers.
- The high scam rates in NFTs and crypto projec ...
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