Online Course Ideas: 200+ Proven Ideas For Better Results

Are you interested in starting an online course business in 2023? If so, you’re one smart cookie, because online education is booming, and as long as you have the right tools, you can make money selling your content. However, you might be wondering which subjects can bring in the most revenue.

Fortunately, there are tons of profitable online course niches to choose from. Once you find a topic that interests you, you can turn your passion into a money-making business. As long as you have the expertise and a solid website, you should be able to start off on the right foot.

In this post, we'll talk about why you might want to launch an online course business in 2023, and what to consider before you get started. Then, we'll share a whopping 200+ ideas to help you design best selling online courses. Let's get started!

Why Should You Look for Online Course Ideas?

Before we dive into our list of the most profitable online courses, let's consider why you might want to explore this e-commerce business.

Firstly, the online course business is booming, so it's a great time to break into the field. In fact, in 2022, Learning Management Systems (LMSs) alone generated about $18 billion in revenue.

Some of the most popular online education platforms include Coursera, Skillshare, and EdX:

However, online course businesses aren't just for big enterprises or traditional institutions like schools and universities. Anyone with expertise in a specific topic can become an educator.

What's more, thanks to user-friendly Content Management Systems (CMSs) like WordPress, you don't have to sell your courses through third-party platforms. You can offer them directly on your own website. This removes the middleman and puts you in complete control of your content.

When you set up an online course business, you can generate recurring revenue. This makes it a stable and low-risk way to monetize your expertise or a pre-existing website.

How to Identify the Right Online Course Ideas for You 

Now, let's look at what to consider before you start an online course business.

First and foremost, if you don't already have a website, you're going to need one. WordPress is a free software that enables you to build any type of site, including an online course business:

Plus, it's super user-friendly. You'll just need to sign up for a web host, get a domain name, and install WordPress. Then, you can start building your site.

You'll also want to consider what type of online course model you want to use. One approach is to ask students to pay per course:

However, this product might be more challenging to sell, since people may have a hard time paying a lot of money upfront. What's more, one-off sales don't offer the same level of stability as recurring revenue.

As an alternative, you could build a membership site or a subscription site. These models are pretty similar, so it's up to you how you want to market your business.

You can use a tool like MemberMouse to set up a membership site on WordPress:

Plus, you can pair it with the Courses for MemberMouse add-on. This way, you have everything you need to build an online course.

200+ Most Profitable Online Course Ideas for 2024

Now, let's go over 200+ ideas for the most profitable online courses in 2024. To make things easier, we've organized them into broader niches.

Wellness, Health, and Fitness Online Course Ideas

The global health and wellness industry is currently valued at over $4 trillion. If you have experience in fitness or sports medicine, this could be a lucrative venture for you.

With that in mind, here are some online course ideas in this niche:

1. Meditation courses
2. Nutritional courses
3. Weight loss programs
4. Meal planning
5. Half-marathon or marathon training
6. Yoga
7. Pilates
8. Herbal medicine
9. Holistic remedies
10. Courses on vegetarianism/veganism
11. Reiki
12. Courses on sleep hygiene
13. Women's health
14. Men's health
15. Gut health

Just remember, the course content you create in this niche can affect a person's physical and mental health. Therefore, you'll want to carefully develop your course material and advertise your credentials.

Personal Development Online Course Ideas

Next, let's check out some ideas for the most profitable online courses in the personal development space:

1. Interview skills
2. Study techniques
3. Public speaking
4. Career development
5. Conflict and resolution courses
6. Courses on negotiation
7. A course on resilience
8. Courses on emotional intelligence
9. Positive psychology
10. Ethics
11. Anti-racism courses
12. Courses in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
13. Productivity courses
14. Time management
15. Leadership training

As you can see, this is a broader niche, so it can encompass a lot of different topics.

Parenting Online Course Ideas

According to Forbes, the millennial parenting market is valued at $46 billion. So, here are some ideas for courses in this profitable category:

1. Labor preparation
2. Courses on lactation/breastfeeding
3. Baby sleep training
4. Infant/toddler nutrition
5. Caring for newborns
6. Early attachment/bonding
7. Courses on the science of parenting
8. A special course for divorced parents
9. Courses for single parents
10. Courses for parents of bi-racial children
11. A course for parents of children with ADHD or ADD
12. Courses for adoptive parents
13. Courses on parenting teenagers
14. Child/parent communication courses
15. Courses on parenting in the digital age

Offering parenting courses is an excellent idea. Additionally, since lots of new parents are looking to join a community, this would be an ideal niche if you want to create a membership program alongside your online courses.

Digital Marketing Online Course Ideas

Digital marketing is another massive industry that has the potential for money-making courses. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

1. Introductory digital marketing courses
2. Social media marketing
3. Content marketing
4. Affiliate marketing
5. Influencer marketing
6. Video marketing
7. Email marketing
8. E-commerce marketing
9. Blogging courses
10. Copywriting courses
11. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
12. Podcast marketing
13. Courses on AI and marketing
14. Digital marketing analytics
15. Courses on ethical marketing

The great thing about digital marketing is that it is constantly evolving, so there's always something new to learn. Therefore, you could possibly transform any of the above topics into one of the most profitable online courses out there!

Online Course Ideas for Online Business & Entrepreneurship

While digital marketing offers lots of possibilities for profitable online courses, entrepreneurship is another niche that can take you far.

Check out these ideas for business training:

1. Introduction to entrepreneurship courses
2. Courses on creativity and innovation
3. A course on how to build your business website
4. Courses in business management
5. Personal branding
6. Courses on passive income
7. Affiliate blogging
8. Courses on finding investors
9. A course on business tools
10. Courses for business partnerships and development
11. Business writing courses
12. Sustainable business courses
13. Mindset courses
14. Courses for startups
15. Business communication skills

Once again, this is a topic that can encompass many unique ideas, so don't be afraid to get creative!

Personal Finance Online Course Ideas

Next, let's discuss personal finance. People who are interested in this topic tend to have a good amount of capital. So, they'll likely be willing to spend money on online courses. However, they'll also want you to demonstrate your expertise and credentials.

With that in mind, here are some personal finance online course ideas:

1. Introduction to personal finance
2. Budgeting courses
3. Saving courses
4. Interest and debt management
5. Personal investments
6. Micro-investing
7. Real estate investments
8. Retirement planning
9. Courses on managing your employee benefits
10. Personal finance software courses
11. Financial planning for young adults
12. Cryptocurrency courses
13. Financial wellness courses
14. Courses on stock trading strategies
15. Financial planning courses (i.e. planning for a baby, new home, etc.)

You can be as broad or as specific as you like. For instance, an introductory course in personal finance could cover all the basics, including, budgeting, saving, etc. Alternatively, you could create online courses for highly specific financial goals, such as saving to buy a car.

Cooking 

According to GlobalNewswire, the online cooking industry is expected to be valued at nearly $486 million by 2027. If you're a professional or home chef, you might explore some of these ideas:

1. Cooking courses for beginners
2. Cooking on a budget
3. Vegetarian / vegan cooking
4. Pastry courses
5. Bread-making
6. Baking courses
7. Mixology / Cocktail courses
8. Jam-making courses
9. Italian meals
10. Mexican cooking
11. Japanese cuisine
12. French desserts
13. Chinese food
14. Indian cuisine
15. Traditional American meals

Since each chef brings their own unique flavor to the table, this is likely a good niche for anyone who already has some sort of following.

Home Improvement and Gardening

If you have a green thumb or you're good with a hammer, you might consider monetizing your skills by offering online courses in gardening or home improvement.

Here are some ideas:

1. Introduction to gardening
2. Flower gardening
3. Vegetable growing
4. Herb garden courses
5. Aquaponic gardening
6. Plant propagation courses
7. Viticulture courses
8. Home repair
9. Home renovation
10. A course on how to build a deck
11. Landscaping courses
12. Irrigation courses
13. Flooring courses
14. Courses on household wiring
15. Carpentry courses

Once again, you'll want to make sure you have the appropriate expertise, and that your audience knows it!

Arts and Crafts

If you're looking for potentially best selling online courses, look no further than arts and crafts. This massive industry is filled with possibilities and allows you to get creative.

Here are some course ideas in this niche:

1. Drawing
2. Painting
3. Calligraphy
4. Photography courses
5. Courses in papier-mâché
6. Jewelry design
7. Educational crafts
8. Knitting courses
9. Crocheting courses
10. Sewing courses
11. Sculpting
12. Stamp making
13. Bookbinding
14. Doll-making courses
15. Embroidery courses

One of the great things about this online course niche is that it's highly dynamic. Your target audience could be stay-at-home parents looking to entertain their kids, or it could be creative adults looking to sell handmade goods.

Language Learning

If you know a foreign language and you have experience teaching it, you're off to a good start. Language courses are another excellent option if you want to start an online course business.

Here are a few languages to consider:

1. English
2. Spanish
3. French
4. Italian
5. German
6. Portuguese
7. Chinese
8. Mandarin
9. Japanese
10. Russian
11. Hindi
12. Arabic
13. Korean
14. Vietnamese
15. Punjabi

Of course, we've selected languages that might be able to offer the most profit. However, if you know a less common language, you might find yourself in high demand.

Online Course Ideas about Music

Are you a talented musician? Here are some online music course ideas:

1. Music theory
2. Music composition
3. Vocal training
4. Piano courses
5. Guitar courses
6. Drumming
7. Bass guitar courses
8. Violin courses
9. Cello courses
10. Clarinet courses
11. Trumpet courses
12. Music production
13. Music history
14. Concert technology courses
15. Improvisational Jazz

This is another fun category because there is a lot of potential in terms of sub-niches. For instance, if you love music history, you could design an entire series of courses that teach people about the origins of different genres or even modern rock bands.

Online Course Ideas for Beauty & Makeup

Beauty is another money-making niche. In fact, this year, the beauty and personal care industry is valued at more than $92 billion in the United States alone.

Let's look at some of the most profitable online course ideas in this category:

1. Introduction to makeup courses
2. Introduction to costume makeup
3. Advanced costume makeup
4. Wedding makeup
5. Color theory for makeup
6. Makeup sanitation
7. Eyebrow microblading
8. Eyebrow tinting courses
9. Lash tinting and perming courses
10. Manicure and pedicure courses
11. Facials
12. Waxing courses
13. Daily skincare routine courses for different skin types
14. Natural skincare courses
15. Clean beauty courses

Some of these courses will require a decent amount of tools and equipment. Therefore, this niche is best suited for people who already run a brick-and-mortar business but are looking for a side hustle.

Online Course Ideas Regarding Sustainable Living

Research shows that many consumers are choosing sustainable products and sustainable packaging. Therefore, sustainable living is another strong niche when it comes to the online course business.

Here are a few ideas for course content in this niche:

1. Introduction to sustainable living
2. Sustainable gardening
3. Zero waste lifestyle courses
4. Eco-friendly fashion
5. Renewable energy for homes
6. Courses on mindful consumption
7. Sustainable transportation
8. Courses on waste reduction and recycling
9. Sustainable diet and nutrition courses
10. Water conservation
11. Sustainable travel / eco-tourism courses
12. Courses on climate advocacy
13. Sustainable waste management
14. Courses on ethical investing
15. Courses on “green parenting” (how to raise environmentally conscious children)

Since sustainability is such a multi-disciplinary topic, people from all kinds of backgrounds should be able to find something that piques their interest.

Online Course Ideas for Interior Design and Home Decor

Finally, let's consider some online course ideas for interior design (another multi-billion dollar industry) and home decor:

1. Interior design for beginners
2. Fundamentals of color in interior design
3. Home styling and decoration
4. Interior painting
5. Real estate home staging
6. Feng shui courses
7. Flower arranging
8. Restaurant design
9. Office design
10. DIY home decor
11. Minimalist home design
12. Home decor for small spaces
13. Home lighting courses
14. Vintage/retro home decor
15. Scandinavian living

And that wraps up our list of ideas for best selling online courses in 2023!

Conclusion

Starting an online course business in 2023 is an excellent idea. Plus, if you pair together powerful tools like WordPress and MemberMouse, the process can be very straightforward.

To start, you'll want to choose a popular online course niche, such as health and wellness, parenting, or personal finance. Then, you can consult our list of more than 200 ideas for profitable online courses.

Do you have any questions about the most profitable online courses discussed in this post? Let us know in the comments section below!

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