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Online business ideas, ranked by what brands advertise

The best online business ideas are product categories where many brands already pay for ads, because ads only keep running where products sell. Skincare and makeup lead, then clothing, supplements, hair care, shoes and pet supplies. Below, every category with at least 20 advertising brands, ranked, with where their ads send shoppers.

Ranked by
Brands running Meta ads now
Minimum
20 advertising brands per category
Window
The last four weeks

Online business ideas, ranked by brands advertising now

Ranked by how many brands ran active Meta ads in each category over the last four weeks, in Replo's ad library. Brands keep paying for ads where products sell, so it's a read on demand you can act on. Categories with fewer than 20 advertising brands are left out.

  1. 1

    Skincare and makeup

    over 290 brands advertising, about 48,000 live ads. 57% of ads land on a product page.

    The most crowded category, so win one skin concern with one hero product page.

    Read the guide
  2. 2

    Clothing

    over 180 brands advertising, about 40,000 live ads. 56% of ads land on a collection page.

    Lead with one piece and a collection page; print on demand lets you start without stock.

    Read the guide
  3. 3

    Supplements and sports nutrition

    over 100 brands advertising, about 35,000 live ads. 49% of ads land on a product page.

    Repeat buyers make the numbers work, and every claim on the label and page needs care.

  4. 4

    Hair care

    over 80 brands advertising, about 14,000 live ads. 58% of ads land on a product page.

    Product pages win here: show the result and the routine the product fits into.

  5. 5

    Clothing accessories

    over 50 brands advertising, about 15,000 live ads. 37% of ads land on a collection page.

    Hats and sunglasses ship small and need fewer sizes than clothing does.

  6. 6

    Shoes

    over 50 brands advertising, about 14,000 live ads. 50% of ads land on a product page.

    Fit is the hard part, so a size guide and easy exchanges carry the page.

  7. 7

    Pet supplies

    over 50 brands advertising, about 11,000 live ads. 28% of ads land on a product page.

    Pet owners buy again and again; treats, toys and grooming suit small brands.

  8. 8

    Snacks

    over 50 brands advertising, over 4,500 live ads. 34% of ads land on a product page.

    Small-batch snacks can start under a state's cottage food rules before a commercial kitchen.

    Read the guide
  9. 9

    Kitchen and dining

    42 brands advertising, over 6,600 live ads. 42% of ads land on a collection page.

    One better pan or tool, shown in use, is the classic first product.

  10. 10

    Sporting goods

    39 brands advertising, over 6,500 live ads. 59% of ads land on a collection page.

    Pick a sport you play; buyers trust gear from people who use it.

  11. 11

    Sheets and bedding

    38 brands advertising, about 12,000 live ads. 45% of ads land on a collection page.

    Bedding sells on feel, so fabric details and reviews do the work.

  12. 12

    Home decor

    35 brands advertising, over 3,300 live ads. 55% of ads land on a collection page.

    Candles, prints and textiles are easy first products that photograph well.

    Read the guide
  13. 13

    Household supplies

    33 brands advertising, over 3,400 live ads. 24% of ads land on a offer page.

    Cleaning and storage products sell on a clear before and after, then refills.

  14. 14

    Furniture

    31 brands advertising, over 6,300 live ads. 54% of ads land on a collection page.

    Big tickets and big boxes: collection pages and quizzes help buyers choose.

  15. 15

    Baby and toddler

    30 brands advertising, over 4,100 live ads. 47% of ads land on a product page.

    Parents research hard, so safety details and reviews on the product page matter most.

  16. 16

    Candy and chocolate

    29 brands advertising, over 2,800 live ads. 38% of ads land on a offer page.

    Gifting drives the category, and bundle offers carry most of its ads.

  17. 17

    Shaving and grooming

    24 brands advertising, over 6,900 live ads. 70% of ads land on a product page.

    One hero product page takes most ads; kits and refills bring buyers back.

  18. 18

    Jewelry

    20 brands advertising, over 3,100 live ads. 71% of ads land on a collection page.

    Collection pages carry most ads; start with one material and one price band.

    Read the guide
  19. 19

    Coffee

    20 brands advertising, over 6,600 live ads. 33% of ads land on a product page.

    Listicles and advertorials work unusually well here: a story sells the bag.

    Read the guide

Left out, under 20 brands: oral care, alcoholic drinks, bakery, lawn and garden, swimwear, meat and seafood, arts and crafts, lighting, books.

How to start a online business, step by step

  1. Start where demand is proven

    A crowded category is a good sign when you're starting out. Dozens of brands paying for ads every week means shoppers are buying, and that the cost of an ad still pays back. An empty category often means nobody has made it work.

    Pick a category from the top of the list that you know as a customer. You'll write better ads and product pages for something you've bought yourself.

  2. Find the gap inside the category

    You won't beat the biggest skincare brand on skincare. You can beat it for one customer: one skin type, one age, one routine. Read the reviews on the top brands' product pages and write down what buyers complain about. Your first product answers one of those complaints.

  3. Copy the page type, not the brand

    Each idea in the list says where most of that category's ads land. Makeup and skincare brands send most ads to one product page. Clothing and jewelry brands send them to collection pages. Coffee brands lean on listicles and advertorials. Build that page first, because it's what the category's shoppers already respond to.

  4. Choose how you'll make or source it

    For clothing, prints and mugs, print on demand lets you sell without stock. For skincare, candles and food, small batches you make yourself, or a contract maker, keep the first order small. Dropshipping skips inventory too, but you compete on the same product as every other seller of it.

  5. Test with one product and one ad

    Launch one product with one page and one ad angle, and give it a small daily budget for two weeks. If people click but don't buy, fix the page. If they don't click, change the angle. Add products only once one sells without you pushing it.

Build the store for your idea

Pick an idea, describe your product, and Replo builds the store on your brand: homepage, product page and the page type your category's ads use.

The prompt Replo starts from

I'm starting an online business selling [product] for [who it's for]. Build my store: a homepage that says what we sell in one line, a product page with photos, benefits, reviews and FAQs, and a landing page I can send my first ads to.
Build this with Replo

Edit the words in brackets once Replo opens.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best business to start online?
One where shoppers already buy and you can still stand out: skincare, clothing, supplements and hair care have the most brands advertising right now. Pick the category you know as a buyer, then aim at one customer the big brands serve badly.
What will sell well online?
Products in categories where many brands keep paying for ads, because those ads only run while they sell. Beauty, clothing, supplements, hair care and pet supplies lead the list above. Within a category, the product that fixes a complaint in competitors' reviews sells best.
Can ChatGPT help me start an online business?
Yes, for research, naming, product descriptions and ad drafts. To sell, you still need a store with checkout. Replo builds that store from a description, and product feeds to ChatGPT, so shoppers can find you there, are in early access.
How much does it cost to start an online business?
Under $100 a month for a domain and a store plan if you sell print on demand, digital products or something you make yourself. Inventory, samples and ads are the bigger costs, so test one product with a small ad budget before you order stock.

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