He visited a Thai island on vacation 18 years ago and never left. Now, he runs a restaurant by the sea.
6 min read
I lost my dream job after 4 months. These are the side hustles that have given me freedom and income.
After losing her corporate job, Melissa Riepe turned to side hustles such as decluttering, refurbishing furniture, and taking dating profile pictures.
6 min read
Every winter, they'd leave Saint Tropez for Thailand. Eventually, they bought a boutique hotel and moved to the tropics for good.
"People tell me, 'Your life is cool.' OK, there are coconut trees, there is the sun, I get it. But that doesn't mean that there are no challenges," she told BI.
7 min read
Exclusive
Floyd Mayweather's fitness business is on the ropes. Gym owners are punching back.
The champion boxer says industry changes hurt his empire, and that franchisees could do more. Franchisees say he didn't do enough.
14 min read
3 roasters tell BI why your cup of coffee is getting more expensive — and it's not only because of tariffs
Chances are, your cup of coffee or bag of beans will start to cost even more in a few months, as cafés start to feel the full effects of tariffs.
7 min read
A ceramics business sees a silver lining for its resale program as tariff turmoil brings a secondhand market boom
As tariffs bite into household budgets, Heath Ceramics sees a silver lining for its resale program amid a secondhand market boom.
3 min read
I own a reselling business with my wife, and sales are booming. I can't attribute our growth to anything other than the tariffs.
Ryan Frankel and his wife's reselling business has seen a 41% revenue increase since President Donald Trump announced new tariffs.
4 min read
Trump's 90-day tariff pause with China is too little, too late for some small businesses
Small business owners said that the 90-day trade deal with China isn't long enough to place shipments confidently, and "just kind of terrifies me."
5 min read
My e-commerce business sells pickleball paddles made in China. Tariffs haven't hit yet, but I'm ready to make one strategic shift.
I've avoided tariffs so far but couldn't help but wonder, should I be worried about working exclusively with suppliers in China?
7 min read
Making big life decisions during a time of massive change
Timing big decisions like buying a house or switching jobs is tough in the Trump era. BI's series is here to help you with these life choices.
1 min read
She launched her Korean skincare brand just as tariffs hit. These are the lessons she learned about owning a business.
Trump announced his Liberation Day Tariffs just after 30-year-old Irene Ham spent over $60,000 on inventory to launch her Korean cosmetics brand.
4 min read
I met Mark Cuban before 'Shark Tank,' and he became my mentor. Here are the best business lessons he taught me.
The entrepreneur Shira Lazar shared how Mark Cuban's mentorship has influenced her media and AI career.
6 min read
I own a board game company. The tariffs are damaging our industry, and I'm suing the president.
Jamey Stegmaier is the president of Stonemaier Games, which pays tariffs for games it manufactures in China. He joined a lawsuit against the president.
5 min read
Best Secured Business Credit Cards of 2025
The best secured business credit cards of 2025 come with features, rewards, benefits, and fees that help your small business build business credit.
12 min read
FoundersCard offers exclusive benefits for entrepreneurs. Is it worth it in 2025?
Explore the exclusive world of FoundersCard, offering unique benefits and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals.
9 min read
The rise of the college bed party: Parents are spending big bucks to announce their kid's college decision — and small business owners are cashing in
College bed parties have created a pathway to turn lucrative side-hustles into six-figure businesses. BI spoke with consumers and business owners.
7 min read
Timing Big Decisions
It's a chaotic world right now. Here's why that makes it the ideal time to start a business.
"It's always a great time to start a business — and some of the most successful businesses are started during recessions."
6 min read
Made to Order: Food-business strategies for an evolving industry
The restaurant industry is always in flux. Here's how chefs, small-business owners, and hospitality leaders are keeping up and standing out.
1 min read
Best Business Credit Cards of June 2025
Our personal finance experts guide you through the best business credit cards of June 2025 for benefits and rewards that support your small business.
16 min read
I use vibe coding and AI to run my Etsy and Shopify store. It's helped me more than double my revenue in a year.
Therese Waechter sells stickers online. She told BI how she uses AI and vibe coding to improve her Shopify storefront and boost revenue.
5 min read
An Idaho restaurant put employee well-being first — and it paid off
At Kin, a prix fixe restaurant in Idaho, employee well-being is key. In an industry known for burnout, it's a lesson on workplace culture.
7 min read
12 tips to help grow your small business in an age of uncertainty
Take the next step in your small business journey with a plan for growth.
7 min read
We're a father-daughter duo who have built 3 successful businesses. Working together isn't always easy, but it's meaningful.
Deep Fission CEO Liz Muller and her 81-year-old father, inventor Rich Muller, shared their secret to building three successful businesses together.
6 min read
A small women-owned business in Florida is suing Trump over tariffs — with help from a Libertarian legal group
Emily Ley, owner of a small stationary company in Florida, filed a lawsuit that could undo all of Trump's tariffs
4 min read
They assemble their products in America. They're also rattled by Trump's tariffs.
Trump says his tariffs will cause more products to be made in the USA. American business owners tell BI it's not so simple.
5 min read
My dog sitting side hustle allows me guilt-free indulgences like a treat at Starbucks or a mini shopping spree at Athleta
Our family wasn't ready to get a new dog after ours died, so I leaned into dog sitting. Now these furry friends bring in money instead of costing us.
4 min read
Best Small Business Tax Software: Top Picks for 2025
To find the best tax software for small business owners in 2025, we compared leading online tax services on price, accessibility, and ease of use.
10 min read
How toys for adults became a $7+ billion US industry
Adults are the world's fastest-growing group of toy buyers. They're collecting Lego, plush toys, Hot Wheels, Barbies, Sonny Angel figurines, and more.
Check out how women have blown past men on 3 measures of entrepreneurship
Digital platforms have helped women start businesses. But growth for Black women is anticipated to slow down with cuts to DEI programs.
3 min read
His boss gave him an alarm clock for his 7-year work anniversary. It became the catalyst for 3 major life changes.
In Beijing, he finally felt at home. Over the next few years, his strong social connections helped him discover and build a new career path.
4 min read
It's tough to run a restaurant in LA. This chef is giving it a shot — in only 200 square feet.
Business Insider sat down with the mother-son team behind LA's Box Chicken to discuss the realities of running a restaurant in LA.
8 min read
'Ghost kitchens' are great for shoestring budgets, but brick-and-mortar is still king, restaurant owners say
Is a brick-and-mortar presence essential for a restaurant's survival? Three owners weigh in.
8 min read
I changed my work habits to improve my marriage, and it increased my profits to over $190,000. Here are the 3 pivots I made.
An entrepreneur named Liane Agbi adjusted three work habits to improve her relationship with her spouse, and it grew her productivity and sales.
5 min read
Single-origin Mexican chiles could finally be available in the US. But thanks to tariffs, you may never taste them.
Single-origin heirloom Mexican chiles could finally be accessible in the US. But thanks to Trump's tariffs, they may never make it to your spice racks
4 min read
I made $48,000 in profits in 4 months on Etsy. Here's how I experimented to find the right products and prices to sell.
Entrepreneur Taylor Posada scaled her new Etsy shop and made over $48,000 in four months using data from Etsy ads, sales, and listing images.
5 min read
This eco-friendly brand offers compostable alternatives to household items. AI has been key to scaling its operations.
Repurpose, a home and kitchen brand, is using AI to streamline its financial processes, marketing, and employee reviews.
4 min read
Worried a recession may hurt your business? Have a lawyer take these steps.
Experts recommend that small businesses get their paperwork in order if they need a quick loan or merger to survive a recession.
6 min read
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Review
U.S. Bank Triple Cash cardholders earn bonus cashback in categories like gas stations and EV charging stations, and $100 in software credit each year.
7 min read
A global dress distributor gave AI a chance. Now it makes creative content faster, and overstock is down 40%.
Amarra wholesales special-occasion gowns and dresses. The brand uses AI for inventory management, content creation, and customer support.
5 min read
She returned to work after surviving cancer but resigned a week later. Now, as a laundromat owner, she's her own boss.
Laundromats are often touted as a passive income business, but Low Seow Yee is hosting parties and hoping to make laundry fun again.
5 min read
I started an e-commerce business after years of writing about profitable ones. Here's what I wasn't prepared for.
My conversations with e-commerce entrepreneurs got me thinking: Can anyone — including a journalist with some savings to play with — do it?
5 min read
A New York City-based startup combined neuroscience with AI to build an app that helps with chronic stress
The small business uses AI in mental health coaching and app development. Its app provides somatic exercises to address chronic stress.
4 min read
A millennial living in Beijing missed his hometown flavors. So, he opened a restaurant and started serving them himself.
A photo campaign featuring the good-looking owners on RedNote, a Chinese social media app, has helped the restaurant succeed.
5 min read
Daily Harvest's AI strategy is giving customers what they want
The meal delivery service is employing AI across the business, reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and boosting customer satisfaction.
5 min read
I started flipping Amazon pallets to earn extra income, and now I run a multimillion-dollar e-commerce business
Flipping pallets of Amazon returns on eBay was a way for Lizeth Cuara to leave her job. It was the start of her successful online retail career.
6 min read
How one Texas-based moving company is using AI to improve safety, optimize routing, and reduce liability
3 Men Movers uses AI to minimize driver distraction and enhance routing. Its CEO says the tech helps the business stay competitive in the industry.
4 min read
The Trump administration shut down USAID to put 'American interests' first. In North Carolina, the freeze has thrown hundreds out of work.
The Trump administration shut down USAID to put "American interests" first. In North Carolina, the freeze has thrown hundreds out of work.
9 min read
They left their corporate jobs and built a hotel in the surfing capital of the Philippines. Island life is busy, too.
One pandemic and a devastating Category 5 typhoon later, they've finally settled into their new lives.
9 min read
A 29-year-old small-business owner says entrepreneurship shouldn't be 'the ultimate goal for everyone' and describes the challenges, including professional loneliness
Running your own business can feel isolating, says Drink Wholesome founder Jack Schrupp, "especially if it's a hard journey, which it often is."
4 min read