As entrepreneurs and buyers look beyond traditional cafés, retail and service models, a growing number of unconventional businesses around the world are thriving — not because they are novel, but because they solve modern problems.
From paid companionship to emotional release spaces, these “weird” business concepts reflect deeper shifts in consumer behaviour around loneliness, burnout, time scarcity and experience-led spending — trends Australian and US buyers are increasingly paying attention to.
According to Mary Tamvakologos, Director of Operations at AnyBusiness, the rise of these models highlights how value is being redefined in the business-for-sale market.
“Buyers are no longer just asking what a business sells — they’re asking why it exists and whether it aligns with how people live now,” Tamvakologos says. “Some of the fastest-growing concepts globally are built around emotional needs, convenience and experience, not physical products.”
The World’s Weirdest Business Models — and What They Reveal
| Business Concept | Where It Operates | What It Offers | Consumer Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Cuddling Services | Japan, UK, US | Paid platonic cuddling with trained practitioners | Loneliness and emotional wellbeing gaps |
| Rent-A-Friend Services | Japan | Companionship for events, outings or conversation | Social stress and desire for connection |
| Crying Cafés / Emotional Rooms | Japan, South Korea | Safe spaces to cry with curated support | Stress accumulation and emotional release |
| Death Cafés | UK, Europe, Japan | Open conversations about death over tea | Shifting cultural attitudes to mortality |
| Goat Yoga Studios | USA, Europe | Yoga classes with goats | Wellness meets entertainment |
| Luxury Dog Hotels | Global | Five-star hospitality for pets | Pet humanisation and premium spending |
| Professional Queueing Services | UK, Japan | Paid stand-ins for high-demand queues | Time scarcity and convenience prioritisation |
| Fake Wedding Guest Agencies | China | Hire guests to attend weddings | Social status performance and ceremonial pressure |
Why “Weird” Businesses Are Becoming Serious Opportunities
While these models may appear niche, Tamvakologos says they mirror trends already influencing business demand in Australia and the United States.
“We’re seeing growing interest in experiential, lifestyle-driven and service-based businesses — particularly those that tap into wellness, companionship, pet care and convenience,” she explains. “What looks unconventional today often becomes tomorrow’s mainstream category.”
Key Forces Driving Demand:
- Emotional outsourcing — paying for connection, relief or support
- Time scarcity — convenience as a premium commodity
- Experience-first spending — services people feel, not just use
What This Means for Buyers
For prospective buyers, the takeaway isn’t to chase novelty for novelty’s sake, but to understand the consumer insight behind it.
“Successful buyers are the ones who recognise why these ideas work,” Tamvakologos adds. “When a business aligns with real behavioural shifts, it becomes far more resilient — even if the concept initially seems unconventional.”
As buyers increasingly search for businesses that reflect modern lifestyles rather than legacy formats, platforms like AnyBusiness.com.au are seeing growing interest across non-traditional sectors.
The convergence of tech and brands 