Looking for ideas, trends and tips on what business to start? You are probably searching for that real gold mine, the TOP business idea for 2026. This article should introduce you to interesting fields, alternative tips and new trends! But first, it also explains what running a business involves, using the Czech Republic as an example, and helps you find your way around the subject. Rules differ from country to country, so check the details with your local authorities or an accountant.
What do freedom, a sense of fulfilment, risk and tonnes of paperwork have in common? You will not escape any of them if you decide to start a business in 2026. That is, if you go about it the right way. In this article, you will learn what you need to do and which business areas will flourish in the coming years. If you only want to read specific tips and ideas on what business to start, you can skip the first chapter, which introduces business, altogether. Above all, you should look for the purpose and field of your business within yourself and your own life!
The short answer. The easiest way to start a business is as a sole trader. You register your trade at the Trade Licensing Office (živnostenský úřad) for 1,000 CZK (about 46 USD), and they will enter you in the register within five working days. What business to go into depends mainly on what you can do and what people are willing to pay for. If you are starting with little capital, services in which you sell your time and skills are a good fit. If you have a job, you can start it as a secondary activity and pay contributions based on your actual profit.
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What has changed and where is the opportunity?
2023. In the world of technology, 2023 was dominated by AI, which is gradually making its way into practice. It is taking work from less qualified people, while smart and forward-thinking people are making money from it. Europe is increasingly focused on services and is falling behind in the emerging trend of electric cars. In the Czech Republic, there are also many business opportunities linked to the state, which redistributes large amounts of money. Pensioners are the state’s biggest expense, which makes them an interesting target group for entrepreneurs.
This article loosely follows on from the article What Business to Start and Make Money? You might also be interested in the article on the options for making money.
How to start a business and what business to start?
First of all, let’s look at how to proceed once you decide to set up as a sole trader or start a company. First, you need to decide whether you will do business as a self-employed individual or as a limited liability company (s. r. o.). Both options have advantages and disadvantages. For example, a self-employed individual is liable for their obligations without limit, with all their property. That may sound a bit scary, but if you know you are responsible, you do not need to worry too much. However, you should bear in mind that if you get into debt, both your real estate and your movable property may be seized.
This does not apply to a limited liability company, whose members are jointly and severally liable for the company’s debts only up to the amount of their unpaid contributions. On the other hand, an s. r. o. also has its drawbacks. For example, compulsory double-entry bookkeeping, which is more complex to handle, or a more complicated process for winding the company up.
Each option is different and suits different types of business. So think your choice through carefully. Next, you will need a trade licence. You can then sort out everything else with a single form at the Trade Licensing Office or online, including notifying the social security administration and your health insurance company.
For your first business, you will most likely opt for a trade licence, which involves less administrative and financial burden. For a beginner, it is an easier and clearer option overall, suitable for new entrepreneurs working on a small scale. You can set up as a sole trader on your own, but it is a good idea to talk to someone who already has a trade licence. You surely know plenty of such people. Basically, you pay social and health insurance and you are done. If you mainly invoice your own work, you also have the advantage that you probably will not exceed a turnover of 2 million CZK (about 92,000 USD) per calendar year, which has been the threshold for compulsory VAT registration since 2025. This means you are not a VAT payer, which is certainly welcome at the beginning. Since 2021, there has also been the option of the so-called flat-rate tax, where you do not have to deal with annual statements and simply send one clear amount to the tax office every month.
Choosing what to do, who to work with and what to work with is not easy at all. So let’s go through it step by step in plain terms. Being a sole trader is also good preparation for a bigger business, as you will find out how well you can manage everything, stay organised and earn money.
How to set up as a sole trader step by step
For an unqualified trade (volná živnost), which covers most services, retail and work from home, you only need full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. You do not have to prove any professional qualifications. You can handle the whole process yourself, and it looks like this.
- Choose your field. For an unqualified trade, you choose fields of activity from a list. For a craft trade or a regulated trade, you must provide proof of education or experience.
- Fill in the single registration form. You submit it at the Trade Licensing Office or electronically via the Trade Licensing Register (Registr živnostenského podnikání) portal.
- Pay the administrative fee. Registering a trade when you first start a business costs 1,000 CZK (about 46 USD), and each subsequent registration costs 500 CZK (about 23 USD), regardless of the number of trades registered.
- Wait to be registered. If you meet the conditions, the office will enter you in the Trade Register within five working days and issue you with an extract.
- Report the start of your business. You must notify the social security administration no later than the 15th day after starting, and your health insurance company within 8 days. You can fulfil both obligations using the single registration form at the Trade Licensing Office. To register with the tax office, there is a separate form issued by the Ministry of Finance (Ministerstvo financí).
You will find detailed instructions, including how to fill in the form, in the article how to set up as a sole trader step by step. Before you register your trade, also calculate the contributions that await you in the first few years.
How much a trade licence costs and what contributions you will pay
In the Czech Republic, paper trade licences are no longer issued. Once you are entered in the Czech Trade Register, you receive an extract, and registering the trade itself costs 1,000 CZK (about 46 USD). However, more money will go on social and health insurance. For a main activity in 2026, according to the Czech Social Security Administration (Česká správa sociálního zabezpečení, ČSSZ) and the Czech General Health Insurance Company (Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna, VZP), the following order applies. In other countries, registration, fees and insurance work differently, so ask your local trade office, tax office or an accountant.
- The year you start and the following year. If you started your business after 31 December 2024 and did not carry out any self-employed activity in the previous 5 years, you do not have to pay advance social insurance payments. However, you will pay the contributions in arrears after submitting the annual statement for each of these years.
- Reduced minimum. If you have not carried out any self-employed activity for as long as 20 years, you pay a lower minimum in the year you start and in the following two years. In 2026, this is 3,575 CZK (about 160 USD) per month, so in practice it mainly applies in the third year, when the exemption has already ended.
- Standard minimum. From January to June 2026, the minimum social insurance advance payment was 5,720 CZK (about 260 USD) per month. From July 2026, an amendment to the Social Security Insurance Act (zákon o pojistném na sociální zabezpečení) reduced it to 5,005 CZK (about 230 USD).
- Health insurance. According to VZP, the minimum advance payment for 2026 is 3,306 CZK (about 150 USD) per month, and you pay it from the very start.
So in 2026, a new entrepreneur must pay at least 3,306 CZK (about 150 USD) per month in health insurance. However, also set aside a reserve for social insurance, as this is settled after you submit your annual statement and the additional payment can be high.
Under Czech rules, if you paid the minimum of 5,720 CZK (about 260 USD) in the first half of 2026, the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ) will recalculate your advance payments for January to June under the new rules. You can request a refund of the difference no later than the end of 2026; otherwise, the overpayment will be offset when your annual statement for 2026 is settled.
Flat-rate tax as one payment instead of three
The flat-rate scheme has been in place since 2021. A single monthly payment covers the advance on income tax, social insurance and health insurance. You can join it only if you are not a VAT payer, are not insolvent, your income has not exceeded the limit of the chosen band and you have no employment income, except for income taxed by withholding tax. The exemption from social insurance advance payments for new entrepreneurs does not apply under the flat-rate scheme.
According to the Financial Administration (Finanční správa), in 2026 you pay 9,162 CZK (about 420 USD) per month in the first band. Until June, it was 9,984 CZK (about 460 USD), but the reduction applies retroactively from January and you can deduct the overpayment from future advance payments. In the second band, the flat-rate advance is 16,745 CZK (about 770 USD), and in the third band it is 27,139 CZK (about 1,200 USD). The first band is generally intended for annual income of up to 1 million CZK (about 46,000 USD), and the third for up to 2 million CZK (about 92,000 USD). You must always register for the scheme in advance; for 2026, the notification had to be submitted by 12 January 2026.
Non-VAT payers and buying services from abroad
Under the Czech VAT Act (zákon o DPH), even if you are not a VAT payer, you can become an identified person. This happens when you receive a service from a company that is not based in the Czech Republic, typically paid advertising from Google or Meta invoiced from another EU country. Other countries have their own VAT rules, so check with your local tax office or an accountant.
Under Czech rules, you must then submit a registration application within 15 days and declare and pay VAT on that service in the Czech Republic. You are not entitled to a deduction, as an identified person is not a VAT payer. Wherever you live, check your local VAT obligations before you launch your first campaign.
Sole trader or s. r. o.?
In our view, being a sole trader is enough for most people to start with. You can register in a few days, keep simpler records and use the money in your account freely. The downside is that you are liable for business debts with all your property.
A limited liability company is set up with a memorandum of association or a deed of incorporation in the form of a notarial deed. Under the Business Corporations Act (zákon o obchodních korporacích), the minimum contribution per partner is 1 CZK (about 0.046 USD). The company pays corporate income tax at 21% and keeps double-entry accounts.
On top of that, the company’s profit is not automatically yours. If you have it paid out to you as a profit share, a further 15% tax is withheld, so the profit is taxed twice. A limited liability company (s. r. o.) therefore makes sense mainly when your business carries higher risk, when you work with other partners, or when you do not want to take the profit out straight away. In our article when it is time to switch from sole trader to s. r. o. we look at when the switch pays off.
Another common problem when starting a business is money, which you need in most fields and projects. But what if you do not have it? Then a loan has to come into play, which scares many people. Yet without risk and hard work, there is no well-earned reward. Have you heard the stories of successful people? Most of them had to borrow money to turn their dreams into reality. One option is to compare loan offers from banks and lenders in your country (in the Czech Republic, for example, a loan from Zonky). For Czech readers, there is also our loan comparison, where we have picked the best ones on the Czech market.
Once we have the legal form and financing sorted, we can move on to tips on the field itself. In our view, financing is very important. In many fields, it is almost impossible to start a business without capital. On the other hand, if you are starting out as a freelancer, you need almost nothing. You are selling your time and work. In both cases, though, you should have worked out how, how much and on what you will earn.
What business to start? Where is the demand?
The future of business is not easy to predict. If you are asking what is most in demand on the market, this section could point you in a fairly good direction. There are two popular directions you can take in business.
- What I enjoy and where my expertise lies. This is always the better direction, because you follow your passion and start a business in something you truly enjoy. In this activity, you have a better chance of becoming an expert and, over time, earning a decent living.
- Where the demand is. The second path is more pragmatic: you go into an industry that has great potential for the future or where there is market demand.
If you are thinking about your direction beyond these two levels, take a look at the Ikigai concept. The following diagram shows the possible sources of fulfilment in business.
The most successful entrepreneurs, however, tend to be those who can predict what the market will crave in the future instead of offering old, tried-and-tested goods. What will become a trend and how the world might transform. After all, if we look at the most successful companies of 1995, we will not find the companies that rule the world today.
People who are successful in the long term are also able to spot new trends and adapt to market needs. But you must not get too far ahead of the market’s needs either. In one podcast, we heard Rasťa Turek, who founded several start-ups that were simply too far ahead of their time and went bust just before the demand arrived.
Take a look at the Forbes rankings. The good old industries are holding their places, but it is mainly new innovators using information and the internet who are moving ahead. In recent years, entrepreneurs in software and SaaS solutions in particular have shot up, meaning the company produces nothing physical; these are so-called digital products. Digital products have one big advantage, which is that they are easy to replicate. Information is the new oil, the new gold, in short something of enormous value.
If a company develops a sophisticated antivirus program or a CRM system, serving 100 or 1000 digital products sold is not that different. The income, on the other hand, is exactly ten times higher. So if you are asking what to start a business with, digital products are certainly a hot favourite. And it does not have to be sophisticated software straight away; you can start with e-books or video courses.
In agriculture and the food industry, on the other hand, it is important to modernise and automate. Fewer and fewer people work in these fields, as machines replace them. As Harari writes in his books, the problem in the coming years will be that not as many working people will be needed to feed the planet.
So it is not easy to predict what will be most in demand on the market. You can use your intuition, ask people or do some research. Enthusiasm for the thing itself is very important. Today’s world is changing fast, and new technologies will kill off traditional fields and methods. You need to be flexible and authentic.
An interesting fact from 2021. In 2020, we saw by far the most dynamic period in recent years. Those who did not adjust to the new conditions and adapt went bust. Travel almost disappeared. The restaurant industry transformed significantly. On the other hand, tech companies and basically everything that can be done online took off. The importance of the internet increased significantly in 2020. Those who complained about the pandemic went under. Those who innovated and were not afraid to change their business focus from the ground up will be reaping the rewards of their work this year.
The recommendations on what business to start in 2021 and in 2026 are not very different. The trend is similar. In our view, the biggest growth in the coming years will again be seen in IT, artificial intelligence and, of course, online services of all kinds. Logistics, food delivery and parcel delivery have also proved to be interesting sectors. During the pandemic, these fields showed where their potential lies and boosted their turnover. The main Czech icon in this sector is Tomáš Čupr with DameJidlo.cz (now foodora) and Rohlik.cz. Another interesting example is the Czech start-up Liftago, which combines parcel delivery and passenger transport on a technology platform.
In an ever-faster world, each of us is busier and busier, so we look for people to do some tasks for us. That is why various delivery services are gaining popularity and companies are increasingly hiring freelancers for various tasks. Behind almost every successful entrepreneur there is a great idea. But what if you do not have one?
Bricks-and-mortar shops, which are often closing down, are slipping slightly into the background. Entrepreneurs must not fall asleep in this sector either. Less busy shops can become, for example, parcel pick-up points for Zásilkovna, which already reported over 10,000 pick-up points and Z-BOXes in the Czech Republic in September 2024.
Online shops are slowly taking a bigger and bigger share of profits. In the coming years, a noticeable share of purchases will certainly move online. Opening an online shop or selling on social networks and platforms has never been so accessible. But do not confuse accessible with easy!
But will the website be the sales platform, or will one of the big social networks take over its role? As companies such as Rohlík.cz and Košík.cz show, even buying food in shopping centres may not be here forever. Rohlík plans to launch express delivery of a limited range of groceries, aiming to compete with the established corner shops run by Vietnamese shopkeepers. Among the big supermarkets, Tesco was the first to respond, offering online grocery shopping with delivery.
We are still in a period of digital disruption, in which various fields are gradually being transformed into digital form. Those who cannot keep up with this pace will become outdated and go under. Some fields are at the beginning, while elsewhere digitalisation is already very advanced.
Interesting fact. TikTok passed the mark of one billion active users and, according to Cloudflare’s ranking, became the most visited domain in 2021. It overtook both Google and Facebook. Short videos created by users are the trend and a marketing platform in the coming years too. Paid advertising is also starting to develop on TikTok and will become increasingly popular. Together with Pinterest, TikTok is a social network that is still far from reaching its potential.
How many new companies survive the first years
Starting a company is easy; keeping it going is harder. According to Eurostat’s business demography database, around 64% of Czech businesses founded in 2021 were still operating in 2024. Of businesses founded in 2022, 83% survived their first year in the Czech Republic, compared with 81% across the European Union.
Many people never start at all. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for 2024, 49% of adults surveyed in the countries covered said fear of failure would stop them from starting a business. In 2019, the figure was 44%. The newer GEM 2025/2026 report states that fear of failure deters two in five adults. You can reduce the risk by starting small, testing demand with your first customers and only then investing larger sums.
I do not know what I want to do. Business ideas?
The idea. It is behind most business beginnings. Sometimes it is a brilliant idea with the ambition to change the world and how people behave, but mostly these ideas are more modest. And let us be honest, most ideas are COPY-PASTE, in other words, copying what works elsewhere. This works particularly well for local services or products such as bakeries or cafés, where you are not competing globally.
These should be among the first questions you ask yourself when choosing a field for your business.
“What do I enjoy? What fulfils me? What am I good at?”
Are you a creative person? Try running a business in content creation, whether that means graphics, pictures or text. If, on the other hand, you are good at working magic with ones and zeros, you can build turnkey websites or perhaps work as a programmer from home. If you love sport, take a course and become a trainer at a fitness centre. If you know your passion and talent, things are easier for you.
Don’t be afraid to search. Life is about searching, and if you get stuck at your first job or idea, you may never reach what truly fulfils you. Develop your potential. Do you have a talent for foreign languages? Then try to make the most of that talent in your job or business.
Business is inseparable from the market, where you have to take supply and demand into account. If supply on the market seems weak and demand for a particular service or product is high, you have most likely found the right field. Apple’s philosophy is interestingly different. It does not cater to customer demands but instead tries to push innovation and vision. That is the exception, though.
Business ideas and tips, what business to start for the future?
In case you don’t have a passion you could turn into a living, we have a few business tips for you. These are not specific jobs but areas expected to grow in the coming years. Still, let’s return once more to that passion for a particular field. If you love a less lucrative field, go for it anyway and don’t focus too much on the best-paid business ideas and tips. Today, successful fields of big business at least partly involve IT and new technologies.
- Mobile apps. Do you know of something people are missing on their phones, or do you just have an idea for a fun game? You can make a lot of money from it!
- Selling online. One of the oldest concepts: buy and sell. Building an online shop or selling on social media is difficult at first. But if you stick to your goal, you can succeed. Online retail is still accessible, even though most shops are integrating into large e-shops and marketplaces such as Alza or Allegro, where Mall has also moved.
- Bringing people together. Today we communicate mainly online. Do you have an idea for bringing people back into the real world, helping them meet and grow closer? Or, conversely, how to connect people online in a fun way? Here you can start with a group on social media, and you won’t even need much technical knowledge.
- Making life easier. Rohlík.cz, Košík.cz and other companies took advantage of the fact that people don’t want to go shopping. Think about what else people don’t enjoy doing, do it for them and get paid for it!
- Sharing. Have you ever heard of “car sharing”? Sharing cars is greener and more economical. Similarly, through couchsurfing, for example, you can share a spare bed in your flat. What else could people share with each other?
- Rentals. People who live in big cities in particular often have small flats. Something like a bike simply won’t fit. That is one reason why bike and scooter rentals are so popular now. What would you rent out to people?
- Automation. Automation will reach many fields in the coming years. Tram and lorry drivers could be replaced by a handful of dispatchers within 50 years. Factories could remain huge but employ a fraction of today’s workforce.
- Crafts. Yes, you probably wouldn’t have guessed it, but handmade and craft work is valued more than ever. Today, however, you also need to be a marketer and sell your products. Combining skilled hands with the online world can work wonders, and make money too.
- Expertise. Finally, a slightly more general tip. Become an expert in anything! Yes, you heard that right. If you have a passion and enthusiasm for a field, become an authority in it, and only then think about how to monetise your efforts.
- Ecology. The last point mentions the word “greener”, which sums up the trend towards a more sustainable way of life. There is growing demand in society for greener products and services, and people are willing to pay extra for them. This market keeps growing and is far from saturated.
- The state. An unattractive area tied to state incentives. The state spends large amounts of money, which it often doesn’t monitor very well. This creates interesting opportunities in the area of subsidies and other possible grants.
Tip. Want to know how to start a business online and what is most in demand on the internet? Then be sure to read our article on how to make money online.
So what business should you start?
First, you need information and know-how. You can’t suddenly decide you want to make mobile apps when you know absolutely nothing about them. It’s a good idea to try out various programmes, internships or assistant jobs while you are still studying or working.
If you don’t urgently need money, go for experience and perspective instead. You need to soak up information like a sponge and slowly build your own business model in your head. Ideally, keep a small notebook for this purpose where you can work through the important ideas.
Then you can ask yourself whether you could bring something new to this field and make your mark in it. If the answer is YES, it’s the right time to start a business.
When you do an internship or work at a company, you see how the company operates and what services it provides. If you notice major gaps in how the company works, once you have gained experience you can become new and better competition.
The Czech dream. Great business ideas come quietly and unexpectedly! A shining example is the story of Oliver Dlouhý from Kiwi.com, who essentially invented a new field while travelling and seeing the shortcomings of the existing air ticket market. Kiwi.com became one of the best-known Czech tech startups. Business opportunities are invisible, but there are still plenty of them.
What business to start with little capital
Without much capital, the easiest place to start is services, where you sell your time and skills. This includes tutoring, translation, writing, graphic design, social media management, cleaning, minor repairs, and babysitting or pet sitting. To begin with, all you need is a trade licence, a computer or basic tools, and your first customers from your local area.
Selling goods and manufacturing require more money, because you pay for materials, storage and advertising up front. If you want to sell, start with a small stock or make to order, and only build an e-shop once demand has been proven. Factor in contributions too. If self-employment is your main activity, you pay a health insurance advance of at least 3,306 CZK (about 150 USD) a month from the start, and you should set aside part of every income for social security contributions, which are paid off after you submit your annual overview.
Tips and ideas for running a business from home
More and more people run businesses from home, made possible mainly by the internet. Freelancers, translators, editors, programmers and e-shop owners don’t need to go to work. These people organise their workload from home and on their own! But it also has its downsides. Because of their work, some people don’t come into contact with others, which can cause them mental health problems. In addition, working from home requires self-discipline and excellent time management.
- copywriting
- programming
- design
- translation
- accounting services
- graphic design, photography
- coaching, consulting
- marketing, SEO, PPC
- virtual assistance, administration
- trading
- real estate and financial services
- social media
- affiliate marketing
- email marketing and sales
Anyone can try working or running a business from home. It’s a good idea to keep financial reserves, because more than half of people find this arrangement doesn’t suit them. If working from home doesn’t suit you, don’t overthink it and go back to a regular job. But don’t give up too soon either. It will take you a while to adapt.
Students can afford to start a small business from home even without money and, at minimal risk, find out what it’s like to earn their first money working for themselves. That feeling can motivate young people to work more than a monthly wage from a part-time job. In the Czech Republic, this model still lags behind somewhat due to the long period of socialism, and many young people grow up with the narrow mindset of “the main thing is to find a job”. They don’t want to, and don’t even think about, realising themselves through business. This is a big difference compared with the USA, for example.
The trend of 2021 is the move into the digital world and further reduction of human contact. Shares in technology companies once again rose astronomically this year. Apple, Amazon, Tesla, Netflix, Facebook and Google are crushing growth estimates and keep moving forward. Do you think this macro level doesn’t concern you? Quite the opposite: it’s good to follow trends and set up accounts wherever the trend is heading. Mastering new technologies early can put you ahead of the competition.
Automation and authentic marketing will be key factors in determining companies’ success.
Outsourcing is another interesting trend
Successful companies and individuals delegate routine, simple or tedious tasks to someone else to save their own resources, so they can do even better at their core focus or have more time to relax.
Outsourcing is also growing because of increasing specialisation. What are people delegating more and more often to save time?
- Nannies, childcare
- Cleaning, extended cleaning services
- Dry cleaning, laundry
- Refreshments, catering
- Dog walking and dog care services
- Delivery
- Building and property maintenance
Running a business while employed
Running a business alongside a job or while on maternity leave is much safer, but you cannot give your project your full effort. It is a good idea to use your time in employment to prepare a plan, lay the groundwork and take the first steps in your business. When your job starts holding you back or slowing you down too much, it is time to put all your energy into your new business!
However, there are also many fields that are ideal for mothers on maternity leave, when every distraction and every crown helps. Many mothers have started a new career while on maternity leave and never went back to their original jobs.
Running a business while employed as a secondary activity
If you have a job alongside your business and that job covers your sickness insurance, your business counts as a secondary self-employed activity under the Pension Insurance Act (zákon o důchodovém pojištění). The same applies if you run a business while receiving maternity benefit, while personally caring for a child under four, or while receiving an old-age or disability pension.
Under Czech rules, a secondary activity is much cheaper. You only pay social security contributions once your annual profit exceeds the decisive threshold, which for 2026 is 117,521 CZK (about 5,400 USD) according to the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). You then pay the contributions for the whole year and, from the month you submit your annual overview, you pay advance payments of at least 1,574 CZK (about 72 USD) a month in 2026. You pay health insurance only on your actual profit. If your employer pays contributions for you for the whole year on at least the minimum assessment base, the minimum advance payment for self-employed persons (OSVČ) does not apply to you under the Czech Act on Public Health Insurance Premiums (zákon o pojistném na veřejné zdravotní pojištění). Elsewhere, ask your local tax office or an accountant.
However, be careful with the Labour Code (zákoník práce). Under Section 304, you may only run a business in the same field as your employer with their prior written consent. You can find a comparison of both paths in the article business or employment.
In this article, you have learned which businesses are worth starting. But that is not all. Passion and enthusiasm for the field also matter. Money and a gap in the market are key in business, but they cannot be your only guide. The world is changing fast and keeps offering new opportunities for new entrepreneurs.
USD amounts are approximate, converted at the Czech National Bank rate of 21.75 CZK per USD on 9 October 2026.
