There are many different types of recurring revenue businesses, and each has its own unique set of advantages and challenges. This article will discuss the ten best recurring revenue business ideas to try today.
If you’re looking for a business idea that will provide reliable income month after month, you should consider starting a recurring revenue business. These businesses are ones where customers pay you on a regular basis, usually through a subscription or billing model.
What is Recurring Revenue?
For starters, let’s first get clear on what recurring revenue is—and what it isn’t. That way, people who are new to the concept will have a good foundation to start from.
Recurring revenue is defined as money that comes into your business on a regular basis. You can receive payments daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly.
With a recurring revenue model, businesses can predict their revenue and the growth of their business. In addition, tracking membership metrics with a recurring billing software will enable you to predict next month’s revenue.
However, keep in mind that recurring billing isn’t a “set it and forget it” type of billing concept. You will still need to put in the effort to acquire new customers and keep your current ones happy.
The key recurring revenue business model characteristic is that you provide a service or product to your customer, and they pay you for it on an ongoing basis.
Benefits of a Recurring Revenue Business Model
Recurring billing is more than the obvious perk of “make more money consistently.” It also opens up new opportunities and advantages for your business. With that said, here are some notable benefits of recurring revenue:
Focus More on Providing Quality Customer Service
Since your customers are already paying you on a regular basis, your recurring revenue business is more focused on providing quality customer service that keeps them happy and coming back rather than acquiring new customers.
Predictable Cash Flow
As mentioned earlier, recurring revenue is much more predictable than one-time sales. This means that you can better forecast your expenses and have a clear idea of when you need to invest in more inventory or hire new staff.
Scalability
With a recurring revenue model, your business is more scalable because you’re not as reliant on acquiring new customers to grow your business. Instead, you can focus on keeping your current customers happy and expanding the services you offer to them.
Reduced Cost
Recurring revenue helps reduce marketing and sales costs since you do not constantly have to acquire new customers. You can serve your current revenue streams with recurring revenue instead of going out and trying to pitch to new customers.
Now that we’ve gone over what recurring revenue is and some of its benefits, let’s look at the best recurring revenue business ideas to try today.
The 10 Best Recurring Revenue Business Ideas To Try Today
There are a variety of ways to generate recurring revenue for your business. To help you get started, here are ten simple yet effective ideas:
1. Subscription Box Service
Subscription box services are thriving, especially in categories like beauty, fitness, and entertainment. These boxes offer consumers the excitement of receiving curated products each month. Launching your own subscription box business in any of these niches can provide a steady stream of recurring revenue—as long as customer satisfaction remains high. Keep in mind that while the initial investment may be significant, it can lead to impressive retention rates if done right.
2. Software as a Service
Creating a Software as a Service (SaaS) product can be a highly profitable way to earn recurring revenue. Whether it’s for project management, accounting, or productivity, users are often willing to pay monthly or annually for software that boosts their efficiency. While development costs can be steep at the beginning, scaling to serve more users is very cost-effective, since digital tools can support thousands with little additional overhead.
3. Product Refill Service
With today’s shift toward sustainability and convenience, refillable products have gained popularity. You can build a business around offering regular refills for everyday items like cosmetics, printer ink, kitchen supplies, or food. By incorporating a subscription model, you’ll encourage repeat purchases and maintain consistent revenue while strengthening brand loyalty.
4. Sell Stock Photos
If you’re a skilled photographer, you can turn your talent into a recurring income stream by offering stock photo memberships. Bloggers, marketers, and content creators constantly need fresh, high-quality images. By uploading your photos to platforms like Shutterstock or Unsplash, or starting your own subscription-based site, you can earn money monthly. Expanding into videos or GIFs can further boost your earning potential.
5. Maintenance Services
Recurring revenue can also come from essential services like residential or commercial cleaning, landscaping, or property upkeep. Many people now prefer to hire regular help to maintain their homes and workplaces. This business model requires relatively low startup costs and provides consistent monthly income once you’ve secured loyal clients.
6. Online Coaching or Consulting
If you have expertise in a specific field, consider launching an online coaching or consulting service. Whether it’s fitness, business, or personal development, people often seek consistent support to reach their goals. You can offer live coaching sessions or develop a library of pre-recorded lessons that users can access for a recurring fee. This model allows you to scale and generate income even when you’re not actively teaching.
7. Rental Business
Running a rental service is another solid way to earn steady income. If you own valuable assets such as equipment, vehicles, or furniture, renting them to individuals or businesses can be very lucrative. Many organizations prefer renting to minimize upfront expenses. You can set daily, weekly, or monthly pricing, creating a stable income stream from your existing property.
8. Membership Website
Launching a membership website is a great strategy for monetizing your expertise. If you can offer exclusive content—such as educational resources, training videos, or access to a private community—you can charge users a subscription fee. This model works particularly well in niches like health, finance, or education, where users are constantly seeking updated and reliable information.
9. Mobile App Subscriptions
With mobile usage on the rise, subscription-based apps present a strong opportunity for ongoing revenue. Whether you develop a game, a health tracker, or a learning tool, users are often willing to pay for helpful, well-designed apps. The key is to provide valuable content, easy navigation, and a smooth user experience. Monetization strategies and community engagement will also determine long-term success.
10. Affiliate Marketing
If you have an online presence or engage with a large audience, affiliate marketing can be a smart way to earn passive recurring income. By promoting other companies’ products or services, you earn a commission for each sale or lead you generate. You can market anything from software to digital courses. Building strong connections with reliable brands and using tools to track commissions will help you grow a sustainable affiliate business.
Why Use ReliaBills?
If you’re planning to switch to a recurring revenue billing model, you’ll need to use the right software to help streamline the process. ReliaBills is the perfect recurring billing solution for small businesses.
ReliaBills makes it easy to set up recurring payments, manage customer information, and track your revenue. We have the whole recurring billing package where you can set up, run, monitor, and optimize your recurring revenue business – all in one place.
When you upgrade to ReliaBills PLUS ($24.95/mo), you’ll have access to all the features you need to set up recurring billing for your business.
Plus, ReliaBills also integrates with QuickBooks to keep track of your finances in one place. For more information about ReliaBIlls and its recurring billing services.
Try ReliaBills today and see how easy it is to switch to recurring revenue and take your business to the next level!
How to Create a New Recurring Invoice Using ReliaBills
Creating a New Recurring Invoice using ReliaBills involves the following steps:
Step 1: Login to ReliaBills
- Access your ReliaBills Account using your login credentials. If you don’t have an account, sign up here.
Step 2: Click on Recurring Invoices
- Navigate to the Invoices Dropdown and click on Recurring Invoices for an overview of the list of your existing customers.
Step 3: Go to the Customers Tab
- If you have already created a customer, search for them in the Customers tab and make sure their status is “Active”.
Step 4: Click the Create New Recurring Invoice
- If you haven’t created any customers yet, click the Create New Recurring Invoice to create a new customer.
Step 5: Click on the “Click here” Button
- Click on the “Click here” button to proceed with the recurring invoice creation.
Step 6: Create Customer
- Provide your First Name, Last Name, and Email to proceed.
Step 7: Fill in the Create Recurring Invoice Form
- Fill in all the necessary fields.
Step 8: Save Recurring Invoice
- After filling up the form, click “Save Recurring Invoice” to continue.
Step 9: Recurring Invoice Created
- Your Recurring Invoice has been created.
Wrapping Up
There are many recurring revenue business ideas that you can try today. These are just a few recurring revenue business ideas to get you started. So, which one will you choose? Whatever it may be, make sure to pick one that best suits your skills and experience. If you implement even just one of these ideas, you’ll be well on your way to generating predictable and reliable income for your business. Good luck!
