12 Online Business Ideas in South Africa to Start Today

Thinking about starting an online business but you're not sure where to even begin? More and more people are finding smart ways to earn extra income from home, online. And the beauty of going digital is that you can grow at your own pace and choose a hustle that matches your skills or passions.

So if you’re freelancing on weekends, turning a hobby into sales, or setting up an online store, there are plenty of options to get off the ground. It can start from dropshipping and second-hand fashion to online courses and podcasts, these ideas prove that earning online is possible if you’re willing to put in the work.

Here are 12 online business ideas in South Africa that are picking up momentum right now (along with a few tips to help you make them work for you).

1. Sell Your Hobby

Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. Except you will. And you’ll love it. An entrepreneurial venture with passion at the forefront is going to bring you everything you could have hoped for.

You may think your craft is something for your eyes only - maybe suitable for a few family birthday presents. You’d be surprised to know that there is a great market out there for unique art and handmade goods.

People often mistake thinking that they need to learn a whole new skill to sell online. The way we see it is that if you’re already good at something that brings you joy, it’s time to get paid for it.

2. Become a Freelancer

Got a skill that’s in demand? Whether it’s writing, design, coding, or consulting, freelancing is one of the most flexible online business ideas out there.

You can start by building a portfolio website, marketing yourself on social media, or joining platforms like Fiverr, Fundi, or Upwork. But if you want to grow long-term, focus on building your own brand and client base.

3. Influence The Masses

We all follow influencers of some kind. Perhaps you’ve found yourself thinking, “Hey, I could do that.”

Yes, you can! If you love all things social media, have an audience you engage with, and have a knack for talking about the products you love, influencer marketing may be for you.

No massive following? No problem. There’s been a surge in micro-influencers, accounts with a small but invested following.

The most significant building block to overcome once you decide to build an influencer brand is what other people think. But hey, they aren’t the ones hustling to make a thriving online business.

4. Start a Blog

Blogging is far from dead. In fact, it’s one of the most underrated online business ideas out there.

If you’ve got something to say and a niche you’re passionate about, start writing. With time, you can monetise your blog through ads, affiliate links, sponsored content, or even selling your own products.

5. Try Dropshipping

Want to sell products without holding stock? Dropshipping is your friend.

You choose the products, set up an online store, and when someone places an order, your supplier handles the rest—packaging, shipping, and delivery.

It’s a low-risk way to get into ecommerce. Just make sure you choose reliable suppliers and focus on marketing your store.

Want to accept payments online? Use the iK Pay Gateway to integrate secure card payments into your ecommerce site.

6. Put Together Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are a beautiful way to put your heart and soul into something curated, well-thought-out and profitable.

A subscription box is a box of goodies put together to be shipped off to subscribers. This could be a weekly, monthly, or even bi-annual delivery, depending on what you offer.

Subscription boxes range from skincare to food to fandom merchandise. Plus, the products don’t even need to be your own. You could select various products from different brands that work well together, package them beautifully and send them off.

7. Give Affiliate Marketing a Go

Affiliate marketing lies somewhere in the middle between influencer marketing and writing a blog. You can use both of these techniques to become a successful affiliate marketer, but you’re not limited to them.

You can start an affiliate marketing business by collaborating with brands that have products that need selling. How it works is that you direct customers towards their website or ecommerce shop by recommending their product through social media, email marketing, blogging, or whichever online channel works best. You get a commission for every customer that visits their website.

An appealing perk is that you don’t need to leave your 9-5 to become an affiliate marketer. You can run your business straight from your phone without putting in long hours.

8. Start a Podcast

When you’re in a group of people, do they hang on to every word you say? Are you great at interviewing, talking for long periods, and telling captivating stories? Podcasting could be the online money-maker you’re looking for.

All you need to get started is audio recording software, call recording software, and a high-quality microphone. Of course, general editing skills are an advantage.

Podcasting has become one of the most popular ways for audiences to get information and entertainment, so why not get involved?

9. Virtually Assist

If you’re organised, tech-savvy, and love helping others, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) could be your perfect fit.

You can offer services like email management, social media scheduling, customer support, or admin tasks. Start solo, then scale by building a team of VAs.

10. Sell Second-Hand

Everybody wants a cool leather jacket from the 1970s with an affordable price tag, but they’re not willing to sift through racks and racks of clothing the way you are. If you’re a regular thrifter, you could be using your time to make money online. Not only will you be doing a massive service to the planet, but you’ll also be able to turn over profit by selling items you can buy for a super low price.

There has been a considerable shift in the way people think about sustainable fashion. With fast fashion going on trial for human rights issues and malpractice, there has never been a better time to join the second-hand revolution.

11. Create and Sell Online Courses

Ah, the internet. A well of knowledge, where anything and everything is at our fingertips.

Passive income is the way to go, and online courses are a sure-fire way to get there. If you have an area of expertise you would like to share, we can almost guarantee there is an audience out there willing to learn. From growing a garden to building targeted Google ads, there is nothing you can’t teach online.

Of course, you need to be willing to put in the work to create an excellent guide, video, or virtual seminar. But once that’s done, you just need to sit and wait for people to sign up.

12. Build a Product Website

If everything we’ve mentioned has your head spinning, an out-and-out product-based website could be the move for you. It’s by no means easy, but it has a very close model to a “normal” physical business.

Selling products online will mean you need to source, stock, sell and deliver your product. You’ll need to find a way to facilitate online payments.

If you build your ecommerce store with WordPress and enable it with WooCommerce, you would be able to use the iK Payment Gateway. The iK Payment Gateway allows you to accept card payments online with no contracts, no extra costs, and no surprises.

What Are You Waiting For?

South Africans are finding new ways to hustle online every day. What makes these ideas so powerful is that most of them can start with skills, passions, or resources you already have. It’s less about waiting for the perfect moment and more about taking the first step and building from there.

If you decide to give one of these online businesses a go, remember to treat it like the real thing: track your money, invest time into building trust, and make it easy for customers to pay you.

That’s where iKhokha fits in. If you need a secure online payment gateway for your store or a card machine for in-person sales, we have got the tools to help you turn your hustle into a business.

So pick an idea, set yourself up, and start shaping your future, one sale at a time.