Businesses I Would Avoid in 2026

My name is Damian Prosalendis and I kicked off my entrepreneurship journey about ten years ago. Honestly, after seeing the same tired business ideas pop up over and over, I figured it’d be more fun to share some of my thoughts instead of just throwing out questions.

So, here are a few businesses or side hustles I’d steer clear of in 2026:

Dropshipping:

This one’s definitely at the top of my list. The low barrier to entry sounds super tempting until you realize everyone and their uncle is selling the same stuff from the same suppliers with the same ads. Sure, some people still make bank from it, but it feels like you're in a never-ending race to stay ahead of trends before someone else jumps on them.

Vending Machines:

Social media makes this gig look way simpler than it actually is. It all boils down to location. In my area, all the good spots are already taken by major players who have the connections and cash to run things. If you can’t snag a solid location, your numbers can get pretty ugly fast.

Graphic Design:

I know this might rub some folks the wrong way, but hear me out. Graphic design isn’t dead or anything. But for basic tasks? AI has totally flipped that market on its head. What used to take freelancers hours can now be whipped up in minutes with a decent prompt. It feels like the focus has shifted more toward branding and high-end creative projects.

Mobile Valet / Car Detailing:

I considered diving into this for a while. But geography is key here. Where I live, most people would rather fork out €15 for a quick wash than pay €150 or more for detailing. Plus, I started realizing I’d probably end up spending more time driving around than actually working on the cars.

Print On Demand Clothing Brands:

Man, this market feels so overcrowded right now. Every other person seems to have launched their own “luxury streetwear brand.” The profit margins are razor-thin, getting customers isn’t cheap, and unless your branding is absolutely killer, creating something sustainable long-term is tough.

Watch Rental Business:

Personally, this one seems like too much hassle for me. You’ve got issues like damage, theft, swapped parts—don’t even get me started on superclones and insurance headaches! Plus, you need serious cash upfront to get going. It feels less like building a business and more like juggling risks.

Maybe I’m way off base here, but there’s definitely one trend that stands out:

The lower the barrier to entry, the faster everyone seems to jump in.

I’ve tried my hand at some of these while others I researched and decided were best left alone.

What I Would Do Instead

You know, after spending way too much time diving into shiny business models, I’ve noticed something: a lot of folks are trying to grab leverage before they’ve even picked up the skills. It’s kinda wild.

That’s why I tend to favor service-based businesses over most of the side hustles you see pushed online.

Not that they’re exactly glamorous—trust me, they’re usually anything but.

But services come with some serious perks that people don’t often recognize:

- You can start with really low costs.

- No need for inventory right off the bat.

- Forget about warehouses or huge upfront investments.

- You get market feedback pretty quickly.

- It’s easier to figure out if there’s demand.

- Plus, your skills just keep stacking over time.

And here’s the kicker: selling services pushes you to learn stuff that’ll be super useful down the line.

We’re talking sales, marketing, client management, negotiation, copywriting—you name it. Those skills can translate into just about any business you want to build later on.

My journey was kinda similar. About a decade ago, I dove into entrepreneurship with hardly any cash. I studied chemical engineering for a bit but dropped out and started tinkering with different ideas from my dorm room using a laptop I bought in installments.

I wasn’t out there buying vending machines or fancy watches. Nope, I was all about selling services.

That led me to create ProsaMedia, where we focused on marketing, content creation, media production—you get the idea. Over time, that opened up doors to all sorts of projects, communities, partnerships, and other businesses.

Do I think running a service-based business is easy?

Not at all. You still gotta learn how to land clients, keep them happy, and actually deliver results.

But honestly, if I had to hit the reset button tomorrow with limited funds, I’d probably still lean toward some form of service business instead of chasing after those trendy side hustles everyone talks about.

Maybe it turns out that boring businesses actually come out ahead more often than people care to admit.

What do you think? What businesses should folks really stop recommending in 2026?