We know the struggle. Finding an idea — the idea — it’s hard. We’re not going to pretend that it’s not.

So that’s the bad news. But there’s good news, too. Business ideas come in all shapes and sizes, and from unexpected places. Sometimes they’re out in the world, waiting for you to find them. Sometimes they’re right under your nose.

Almost 100% of the time, businesses are born out of something authentic and inherent about who you already are. Something you love. Something you’re great at — or had to get great at. Something so ingrained in your everyday, you don’t even realize that it could be a business. Until you do.

To show you what we mean, we put together this list of real, live businesses built by kickass entrepreneurs who took something that they love, and turned it into a business.

Not all that long ago, many of these entrepreneurs were exactly where you are now: at the start of the journey, wondering, “But how do I find an idea?”

As you go through the list, you’ll probably find yourself saying, “Wait – that’s a business?”

You better believe it. What will yours be?

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Hardcore Music Studio

Name: Hardcore Music Studio
Quick description: “Learn how to record, edit & mix heavy music.”
Target audience: Hardcore music producers
Founder: Jordan Valeriote
Website: hardcoremusicstudio.com
Products: Online courses

Workweek Lunch

Name: Workweek Lunch
Quick description: “Prep meals for lunch you’re actually excited to eat.”
Target audience: Busy working professionals
Founder: Talia Koren
Website: workweeklunch.com
Products: Membership plans

DesignAcademy.io

Name: DesignAcademy.io
Quick description: “Design principles for developers taught in a non-pretentious, non-bullshitty way.”
Target audience: Developers
Founder: Laura Elizabeth
Website: designacademy.io
Products: Online course

Nicole Jardim

Name: Nicole Jardim / The Period GIrl
Quick description: “My mission is to help women in their 20s & 30s reclaim their hormonal health and feminine vitality naturally.”
Target audience: Women in their 20s and 30s
Founder: Nicole Jardim
Website: nicolejardim.com
Products: Online courses

SketchUp for Interior Designers

Name: SketchUp for Interior Designers
Quick description: “SketchUp courses made just for interior designers.”
Target audience: Interior designers
Founder: Tammy Cody
Website: sketchupforinteriordesigners.com
Products: Online courses, training

WP Assurance

Name: WP Assurance
Quick description: “Launch a beautiful, professional WordPress site in 30 days.”
Target audience: Business owners & entrepreneurs
Founder: Rob Howard
Website: wpassurance.com
Products: Online course, community

Shemmassian Academic Consulting

Name: Shemmassian Academic Consulting
Quick description: “Your trusted advisors for admissions success.”
Target audience: Students wanting to get into elite colleges, medical schools, and other graduate schools
Founder: Shirag Shemmassian
Website: shemmassianconsulting.com
Products: Coaching

Learn UI Design

Name: Learn UI Design
Quick description: “Confidently design beautiful user interfaces for any app or site.”
Target audience: Aspiring UI (user interface) designers
Founder: Erik Kennedy
Website: learnui.design
Products: Online course

The Virtual Savvy

Name: The Virtual Savvy
Quick description: “I help savvy starters launch and grow their VA biz to 5k months and beyond.”
Target audience: Beginner virtual assistants (VAs)
Founder: Abbey Ashley
Website: thevirtualsavvy.com
Products: Online courses, coaching

Go Diaper Free

Name: Go Diaper Free
Quick description: “Learn how to help your baby use the potty with Elimination Communication.”
Target audience: Parents of potty training–aged children
Founder: Andrea Olson
Website: godiaperfree.com
Products: Books, mini-course, coach training program 

DIY Video Guy

Name: DIY Video Guy
Quick description: “Learn how to shoot better videos by yourself.”
Target audience: Aspiring video creators
Founder: Caleb Wojcik
Website: diyvideoschool.com
Products: Online courses

Start a Mom Blog

Name: Start a Mom Blog
Quick description: “I want to show you how to start a mom blog while raising a family. My time saving and productivity tips will make your life easier and help you run a successful blog!”
Target audience: Aspiring mom bloggers
Founder: Suzi Whitford
Website: startamomblog.com
Products: Online courses, e-books

The Rideshare Guy

Name: The Rideshare Guy
Quick description: How to increase your earnings and maximize profits as a ridesharing driver
Target audience: People who drive for Uber and Lyft
Founder: Harry Campbell
Website: therideshareguy.com
Products: Book, online course

The Fuck It Diet

Name: The Fuck It Diet
Quick description: “I help people heal their relationship with food & weight.”
Target audience: Chronic dieters (people who want to improve their relationship with food)
Founder: Caroline Dooner
Website: thefuckitdiet.com
Products: Book, online course

Ten Ton

Name: Ten Ton
Quick description: “Learn how to build a website just once, and you can run as many online businesses as you want!”
Target audience: Business owners, creators, and self-marketers
Founder: Geoff Blake
Website: tentononline.com
Products: Online courses

Country Guitar Online

Name: Country Guitar Online
Quick description: “High quality country and bluegrass guitar lesson videos that you can stream on any device.”
Target audience: People who want to improve their guitar skills
Founder: Devin Shawn
Website: countryguitaronline.com
Products: Online courses, memberships

Tree & Stick Girl

Name: Tree & Stick Girl
Quick description: “Discover what your emotions really mean, why you feel so deeply, and how to take back control of yourself and your life.”
Target audience: Sensitive souls
Founder: Tree Franklyn
Website: findyourinnerhappy.com
Products: Online courses

Jessica Sprague

Name: Jessica Sprague
Quick description: “Grow your skills, build your brand. Join Photoshop Friday Forever for small techniques + big rewards. Or join Brand of You to do business beautifully.”
Target audience: Entrepreneurs and creatives
Founder: Jessica Sprague
Website: jessicasprague.com
Products: Online courses

Female Musician Academy

Name: Female Musician Academy
Quick description: “Make great music, connect with your audience, and grow your business.”
Target audience: Female musicians
Founder: Bree Noble
Website: femalemusicianacademy.com
Products: Online courses

Mom’s Fitness Boutique

Name: Mom’s Fitness Boutique
Quick description: “Core/pelvic floor retraining, full body conditioning and most importantly… emotional support during the most vulnerable time in your life.”
Target audience: New moms
Founder: Terrell Baldock
Website: momsfitnessboutique.com
Products: Online courses, coaching

Media Maven

Name: Media Maven
Quick description: “Connect instantly with thousands of ideal clients in minutes… instead of months!”
Target audience: Small business owners
Founder: Christina Nicholson
Website: mediamavenandmore.com
Products: Online courses

Z Design

Name: Z Design
Quick description: “I take the crap out of scrapbooking.”
Target audience: Scrapbookers
Founder: Cathy Zielske
Website: cathyzielske.com
Products: Online courses, templates, and tools

Violeta’s

Name: Violeta Nedkova
Quick description: “I can help you do what you love and do it in your own way.”
Target audience: “Creative rebels who are tired of conforming to everyone else’s rules and ready to kickass in your own way”
Founder: Violeta Nedkova
Website: violetanedkova.com
Products: Online courses, e-books, coaching

NovelBits

Name: NovelBits
Quick description: “The #1 Top Resource For Learning Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)”
Target audience: Developers wanting to master BLE and Bluetooth 5
Founder: Mohammad Afaneh
Website: novelbits.io
Products: E-books, online courses, coaching

Strengthlete

Name: Strengthlete
Quick description: “I will show you how to rewire your brain, process your stress without using food, and build a healthy relationship with food — so you can be a boss in the office and beast in the gym.”
Target audience: People looking to “find the balance between being in shape and your career”
Founder: Joe Nissim
Website: strengthlete.com
Products: Coaching

CRK Training

Name: CRK Training
Quick description: “I help people … become more balanced and confident riders.”
Target audience: Equestrians looking to improve their riding skills
Founder: Callie King
Website: crktrainingvideos.com
Products: Online courses

EDM Tips

Name: EDM Tips
Quick description: “Improve your EDM production skills.”
Target audience: Electronic dance music producers
Founder: Will Darling
Website: edmtips.com
Products: E-books, online courses

The Contract Shop

Name: The Contract Shop
Quick description: “Legal templates and courses for creative entrepreneurs, online course creators, consultants, coaches and more.”
Target audience: Creative entrepreneurs
Founder: Christine Scalera
Website: thecontractshop.com
Products: Courses, templates

Human Vortex Training

Name: Human Vortex Training
Quick description: “Get stronger on & off the bike, return from injury, and make the most of [your] time to ride & train.”
Target audience: “Riders who are done dabbling, and ready for results”
Founder: Menachem Brodie
Website: humanvortextraining.com
Products: Coaching

Go Rattle the Stars

Name: Go Rattle the Stars
Quick description: “I help creative business owners create a solid social media strategy so they can reach their target audience — and get real results!”
Target audience: Creative business owners
Founder: Brie Kirbyson
Website: gorattlethestars.com
Products: Online courses

Meal Mentor

Name: Meal Mentor
Quick description: “Don’t lose hours planning meals yourself, let Meal Mentor plan your week.”
Target audience: Parents juggling work, family, and the ever-growing to-do list
Founder: Lindsay S. Nixon
Website: getmealplans.com
Products: Coaching, courses, e-books, memberships

Arianna Taboada

Name: Arianna Taboada
Quick description: “I help women entrepreneurs, founders, and freelancers design a maternity leave plan that meets their business model and personal needs.”
Target audience: Self-employed women preparing for maternity leave
Founder: Arianna Taboada
Website: ariannataboada.com
Products: Coaching

Isiah McKimmie

Name: Isiah McKimmie
Quick description: “Creating loving relationships, deep intimacy, and whole-hearted sex … through practical tools, science-based advice, and a rock-steady belief that you are not broken.”
Target audience: Couples and individuals wanting to deepen their intimate relationships
Founder: Isiah McKimmie
Website: isiah-mckimmie.com
Products: Coaching, courses, e-books

Greater Than Rubies

Name: Greater Than Rubies
Quick description: “I help women all over the world feel more polished and confident through daily outfit tips, individual coaching, and events.”
Target audience: Women of all ages
Founder: Caitlin Skidmore
Website: greaterthanrubies.net
Products: Guides, events, coaching

Phyzzle

Name: Phyzzle
Quick description: “Learn how top math, science, and engineering students ace their exams and crush their courses, without the stress, frustration, and long hours we’re all accustomed to.”
Target audience: College students
Founder: Tom Miller
Website: phyzzle.com
Products: Courses, guides

Freelance to Win

Name: Freelance To Win
Quick description: “Learn what it really takes to be a successful freelancer.”
Target audience: Aspiring freelancers
Founder: Danny Margulies
Website: freelancetowin.com
Products: Courses

The Inertia Project

Name: The Inertia Project
Quick description: “We help ambitious women conquer fitness anxiety and create lasting changes.”
Target audience: Women looking to enhance their fitness
Founder: Genevieve Malone
Website: theinertiaproject.org
Products: Courses, coaching

Recording Revolution

Name: Recording Revolution
Quick description: “Create radio-worthy songs from your bedroom or home studio.”
Target audience: Home musicians
Founder: Graham Cochrane
Product page: recordingrevolution.com
Products: E-books, courses

Introverted Alpha

Name: Introverted Alpha
Quick description: “We help thoughtful men attract women naturally without being someone they’re not.”
Target audience: Single men
Founder: Sarah Jones
Website: introvertedalpha.com
Products: E-book, courses, coaching

Comme une Francaise

Name: Comme un Francaise
Quick description: “The only place to learn to both speak real French, not textbook French, and understand French culture so you can cultivate your inner Gaulois(e).”
Target audience: Francophiles
Founder: Geraldine Lepere
Website: commeunefrancaise.com
Products: Courses, subscriptions

Viral Message Lab

Name: Viral Message Lab
Quick description: “When you’re about to dedicate months or even years writing a book or sharing a talk, wouldn’t it be nice to be certain that you’re about to embark on something people LOVE?”
Target audience: Ambitious professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, and “people trying to change the world”
Founder: Ryan Hildebrandt
Website: viralmessagelab.com
Products: Courses, coaching

Rice Lean

Name: Rice Lean
Quick description: “The ultra-simple, millennia old, and crushingly powerful Asian secrets — that help you lose half a pound a day naturally!”
Target audience: Weight loss seekers
Founder: Leslie Chen
Website: ricelean.com
Products: Coaching

10X Travel

Name: 10X Travel
Quick description: “Leverage the power of points and miles to make their travel dreams a reality.”
Target audience: Travel junkies
Founder: Bryce Conway
Website: 10xtravel.com
Products: E-book, affiliate partnerships

Successful Fashion Designer

Name: Successful Fashion Designer
Quick description: “Further your fashion design career by gaining confidence in Illustrator.”
Target audience: Fashion designers
Founder: Heidi Marie
Website: successfulfashiondesigner.com
Products: Courses

A Mother Far From Home

Name: A Mother Far From Home
Quick description: “Join tens of thousands of mothers to get tips, resources, and encouragement that’ll take the chaos out of life with your kids.”
Target audience: Moms
Founder: Rachel Norman
Website: amotherfarfromhome.com
Products: Guides, e-books

Byte by Byte

Name: Byte by Byte
Quick description: “Your one-stop shop for acing your coding interview.”
Target audience: Job-hunting coders
Founder: Sam Gavis-Hughson
Website: byte-by-byte.com
Products: Coaching, e-book

Optimize Yourself

Name: Optimize Yourself
Quick description: “Learn how to master your time, energy, and attention … [and] start treating yourself better than your technology.”
Target audience: Creative professionals
Founder: Zack Arnold
Website: optimizeyourself.me
Products: Courses

Personality.Media

Name: Personality.Media
Quick description: “Video coaching agency which helps online entrepreneurs craft engaging videos.”
Target audience: Busy entrepreneurs
Founder: Jessica Eturralde
Website: personality.media
Products: Coaching, services

Get Style Confidence

Name: Get Style Confidence
Quick description: “I save the day by digging into who YOU truly are to create a gorgeous style on the outside that perfectly expresses who you are on the inside.”
Target audience: Professional women
Founder: Hilde Fossen
Website: getstyleconfidence.com
Products: Courses, coaching

Speak English with Christina

Name: Speak English with Christina
Quick description: “Get the reflexes to finally feel fluent speaking English.”
Target audience: Non-native English speakers
Founder: Christina Rebuffet
Website: christinarebuffet.com
Products: Book, courses, coaching

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Got a business you think belongs on this list? If your business:

1. …has information products (think courses, coaching, e-books, seminars)
2. …is generating revenue

We want to hear from you! Fill out this survey to be considered.

We’ll update this post occasionally to showcase even more amazing businesses from members of the GrowthLab community who are kicking butt and using entrepreneurship to live the life they love.