17 crazy business ideas that actually made money (2023)

Swimming in the murky waters of the endless swamp we call the internet, we’ve come across some of the most ridiculous, hilarious and brilliant(?) business ideas that against all odds have made millions.

Yes, as unbelievable as it may seem, these are all real businesses. We didn’t make any of these up. So without further ado, let’s pretend we’re not secretly wishing we had thought of these ideas first and make fun of them instead.

Disclaimer: By reading further you agree to free Printsome of any responsibility for your potential disappointment in humanity.

iFart App

Apparently, there’s an app for everything and this one makes fart noises. And you know who’s laughing? The developer – all the way to the bank.

Potato Parcel

Have you ever wanted to send somebody a message on a potato?
…
Well, there must be somebody out there who does, because this company exists and their sole product is sending messages carved into potatoes.

My friends are better than yours @randandandi #potatoparcel best mail I’ve received in Texas.

A post shared by James Benson (@jamesbenson20) on Mar 9, 2017 at 7:33pm PST

(Video) 17 Unique Business Ideas

Fake Wishbones

If the product itself wasn’t bizarre enough, it is recommended by PETA for those vegan’s who want to try their luck during Thanksgiving without the guilt. *shrugs*

Doggles

Goggles for dogs, who knew, right? While it might be easy to make fun of this one it is doing some good. Some units have been bought by the US army to protect their furry friends’ eyesight from sandstorms and the sun while in Iraq. Doggles with prescription lenses are also available.

Chia Pets

Can you imagine the sales pitch for this one? ‘They’re pets, but instead of hair they grow grass!’ It still became a huge success, somehow. At least they’re more alive than the next product.

Pet Rock

Back in the ’70s, a guy called Gary Dahl had the idea of selling rocks as pets. Yes, you read that right. The unbelievable part is not the idea itself, anyone can have a weird thought, but the fact that he went on with his plan and it paid off – big time. He became a millionaire for selling… rocks.

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Rent-A-Chicken

The name says it all! This service does let you rent a chicken. Okay, but it’s not like renting a chicken for your next party as a bizarre party guest or anything like that. It’s supposed to get people interested in urban farming and raising their poultry for food. You’ll get sent a couple of hens and a coop so you can see if this chicken farming thing is for you. They even take care of your chickens over the winter and give them back to you in the spring, saving you from all sorts of trouble for first-time chicken owners. Which we hadn’t realised there were so many of, frankly.

Reserve a Spot in Heaven

Even if you don’t believe in heaven, this website offers the chance to ‘cover your bases with some earthly insurance’ (just in case) and for only $15! You’ll also get a certificate of your reservation, an ID card and a guide to get you there. It comes with a money-back guarantee, promising ‘If for any reason you do not make it to Heaven then we will refund your money with no questions asked’. Don’t worry though, we are confident you will make it.’

Cheese Sculpting

It turns out if you set your mind to it, even cheese can become an art supply, as proven by Sarah ‘The Cheese Lady,’ who creates massive sculptures out of cheese for festivals, sports events and state fairs. We were worried about the sheer loss of cheese this would involve until we found out that the sculptures do get eaten at events. So at least there’s that.

Note: You might also like to read ‘25 Creative Business Card Alternatives You Will Never Forget’ there are some crazy ideas in there, I tell you.

Boyfriend Body Pillow

Everyone gets lonely from time to time. Particularly at that moment at night, when we’re in bed, right before we fall asleep and start to question all of our life decisions… If there was just someone I could hug right now – this might not be such a ridiculous product after all.

Snuggie

If wrapping a blanket around you proves too difficult, a Snuggie is what you need. If you don’t know what a Snuggie is, and why wouldn’t you? It would be best described as a blanket with sleeves or a robe put on backwards. Regardless of the ridiculous premise, Snuggies were a huge success when they first came out – and they just might be the perfect outfit to go with your perfect Boyfriend Body Pillow.

Face Blanket

More blankets. This one for your face. The commercial was made with tongue-in-cheek, but don’t be confused, this is a real product you can buy.

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Pivot Planet

Most people want to go on holiday to forget about work, but this company is a bit different. You can pay for a vacation to go try out another job. Or at least, that was the original concept. Now, this seems to have evolved into a slightly different service that just offers you the chance to try out another job. Still paying though, naturally.

The Smash Shack

Sometimes you just get so angry you want to smash things. And no matter how cheap IKEA plates are, it’s a huge pain to keep having to buy new sets of them. Also, let’s face it, there is no way you are going to walk out of IKEA with just a set of plates, so replacing them will inevitably end up being costly. That’s why there’s a special place where you really can go and just smash stuff likes plates, glasses and more.

Glow in the dark toilet paper

Because going to the loo in the middle of the night is too awkward, someone designed glow-in-the-dark toilet paper. We don’t know if the product is a success or not, but The Telegraph reviewed it if that counts for something.

Eternal Reefs

As you shuffle off this mortal coil, you could go peacefully knowing that your next stop would be as part of a coral reef. Yes, there is a company that will create ‘reef balls’ out of remains that will help people create new habitats for sea creatures in their afterlives. We can assuredly say that we never would have thought of this.

Atomic Energy Lab

Some ideas only seem ridiculous over time. Back in the 60’s children were not precious; instead of round corners, parents had more of an if-they-lose-an-eye-at-least-they-have-another-one kind of attitude. That’s why when Chemistry Sets with real chemicals like potassium nitrate (used in firearms), nitric acid (used in rocket fuel) and sulfuric acid hit the stores, boxes flew off the shelves. It wasn’t until years later when some of these substances proved carcinogenic that the product was quietly taken off the market.

Text: Harald Meyer-Delius
Edit: Jessica Bowler

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