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How to start a small business at home in 2024

Blair Travers

Sierra Campbell

Sierra Campbell

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 8:07 a.m. UTC Feb. 16, 2024

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Starting a small business at home can help you turn your passions, skills or ideas into financial prosperity. There are some unique perks and challenges to consider when deciding to start a home-based business. 

You’ll also want to have a solid plan and follow some key steps to get your business off on the right foot. It’s helpful to know where you can find ideas, answers to your questions and other resources you need to run an at-home business successfully.

Should you start a business at home?

There are many factors to consider when deciding to start a small business at home. On the one hand, it’s important to make sure there is demand for your business. On the other hand, you want to be able to handle the amount of business you receive. Gauging things like demand, profit margins and the ability to scale your business early on can help you avoid trouble down the road.

Across the country, at-home businesses make up a large portion of small businesses. C.E. “Tee” Rowe is the president and CEO of America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), which provides free or low-cost support for small businesses in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Here at America’s SBDC, we have seen an uptick in home-based businesses that started during the pandemic but continues to date,” said Rowe. 

Pros of a home business

Here are some key benefits to starting a business at home:

  • Increased flexibility: Set your own hours, freeing you up for other commitments as needed.
  • Less commuting: Save time and money by skipping the drive to work.
  • Comfortable work environment: Design your workspace how you want it. After all, it is your home.
  • Money-saving perks: Pay lower startup costs compared to larger businesses by avoiding costs like renting retail or office space. Take advantage of tax breaks for at-home businesses.
  • Reduce risk: Protect yourself by limiting your liability and avoiding the cost and risk of maintaining commercial space.
  • Rewards for your hard work: Work hard for your business, and your business reaps the benefits instead of some other employer.

Cons of a home business

These are some of the disadvantages of starting a business at home:

  • Limited space: You give up part of your home, and even then, you may still need more space for your business.
  • Distracting work environment: Crying babies, barking dogs and loud neighbors can all be distracting when running a business at home.
  • Professional boundaries: Some people may feel awkward about meeting to discuss business at your home or a public location.
  • Increased mental health risks: Running a home business can feel isolating for some. A lack of social interaction, time outside, work-life balance or effective time management can also threaten mental health.
  • Growth restrictive: If your home-based business scales too rapidly, you may outgrow your workspace quickly. In this situation, success creates a problem for home businesses to solve.
  • Increased costs: Whether you’re paying new employee salaries or wages or forking over more money for higher utility bills, you may feel the financial squeeze.

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7 steps to start a home business

After considering the pros and cons, does the idea of taking the reins and starting a home business appeal to you? You’re not alone. 

“When we work with individuals seeking to start a home-based business, it is frequently based on a desire to control their own circumstance and success, which are great reasons, but it always needs to be thought out carefully,” Rowe explained.

Planning is key. From creating a business plan and determining your business structure to securing funding and setting your marketing strategy, there’s a lot to think through. Follow the steps below to get on the right track to starting a small business at home.

1. Find your niche

Plenty of successful at-home businesses arise from emotion: a passion to do what you love, a frustration with the status quo or excitement to seize on a timely opportunity.

If you’re struggling to find your niche, ask yourself:

  • What do you love to do that others may find challenging?
  • What is a need that no business currently has the right solution for?
  • What are you good at? What do people ask for your help with?
  • What high-demand skills or services do you have to offer?

2. Draft a business plan

Having a business plan is essential for running your business effectively. As Rowe pointed out, “Every business needs a solid, comprehensive plan to guide them to success. That plan needs to focus on skills, finance, revenue and marketing.”

A business plan outlines the direction of the business — its goals, strategies, structure, ways of measuring success and plans for dealing with things like change and risk. Simply put, it’s the roadmap to success for your business.

When creating your business plan, include key sections such as an executive summary, a business description, market analysis and financial projections. For more on what to cover, check out this step-by-step guide to drafting a business plan .

3. Select a business structure

According to the IRS, the most common business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships , corporations and limited liability companies (LLC) . Each business structure comes with its own set of operational, legal, financial and tax considerations. 

A sole proprietorship is a business owned and operated by a single individual, while a partnership is jointly owned by two or more individuals who share responsibilities. 

In contrast, corporations — like C corporations and S corporations — are independent legal entities. C corporations limit shareholder liability but are highly complex. S corporations feature pass-through taxation, distributing income (and losses) to shareholders.

While sole proprietorship is a common structure for just starting out, LLC is another popular option for at-home businesses. It combines elements of a corporation and a partnership, offering limited liability to its members and the flexibility of pass-through taxation. Members of an LLC can choose to be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, C corporation or S corporation.

4. Register your business and get an EIN

After you choose a business structure, you’ll need to register your business with state and federal governments. Select a business name , pay fees and provide required documents, which vary by state.

After getting registered with your state, you can then apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Once you’re approved, you’ll receive this unique nine-digit number that is essential for all sorts of business purposes, from filing your taxes to hiring employees. 

Not all businesses need an EIN, such as sole proprietors and single-member LLCs with no employees.

5. Get any required licenses and permits

Depending on your industry and federal, state and local requirements, you may also need to obtain licenses and permits for your business. 

Here are some examples of licenses and permits you may need, depending on your business:

  • Occupational, professional or trade licenses.
  • Online business permits.
  • Sales tax permits.
  • Health department permits.
  • Safety permits.
  • Home-based child care licenses.
  • Zoning, signage, environmental and other permits to operate an at-home business, as required by local government, HOA or deed restrictions.

6. Obtain funding for your business

Many owners fund their businesses using their own savings. Self-funding is a viable choice if you can get up and running without much money, can come up with the needed funding from your own accounts or can ask for help from family or friends. 

You can also apply for a business loan . Banks will likely want to see a rock-solid business plan, strong financial projections, good personal and/or business credit history and any collateral you’ll use for your loan. If you are a good candidate for lending, make sure that shows in your application so that you can get the best funding and terms for your business.

If you don’t have much personal or business credit history, it may be easier to get a business credit card . This gives you benefits like payment flexibility, credit card rewards and essential early or emergency spending power. It will also help your business establish or strengthen its credit so you can get favorable terms on future loans and other credit.

7. Launch and market your business

You’ve planned out your business, defined its structure and gotten your business registered, licensed, permitted and even paid for. Now it’s showtime. For many who seek to start a small business at home, the launch is the most exciting part of the journey. You are now ready to conduct business.

It’s also important to get others excited about your small business — and keep them engaged. Here are some of the most common marketing strategies for small home-based businesses:

  • Social media marketing: Reach potential customers on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) by sharing engaging content and updates.
  • Business website: More than just a place to sell your products or services online, your business website should help users find what they want to meet their needs. It should also help achieve business objectives by offering features like payment services or e-commerce functionality .
  • Advertising: Platforms such as search engines and social media can help you reach your target audience.
  • Content marketing: Write blog posts, produce videos or create helpful graphics to explain what your business offers and to establish trust and authority.
  • Email marketing: To keep business coming back, build an email list to communicate using promotions, newsletters and updates.
  • Word of mouth: In the early stages, many small home-based businesses rely on word of mouth. You can also ask for customer reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp.

Weigh the costs and benefits when deciding on your marketing plan, so you choose what’s best for your business.

Top home business ideas

Check out these home business ideas to find the right fit for you:

  • Retail: Sell products you make — including crafts and customized gifts — or resell products you get for less than what you pay for them.
  • Case-based services: Open up an in-home daycare, provide home-based care for adults or even take care of pets by offering pet sitting and mobile grooming.
  • Events: Plan weddings and events. Create the perfect look as a makeup artist or stylist. Play music in a band or take your place on the 1s and 2s as a DJ.
  • Art and creative services: Capture the moment as a photographer, or maybe you’d rather bring your vision to life as an artist. More of a words person? Write, edit or translate content. 
  • Education: Teach the next generation how to do math, play an instrument or learn a new language. Provide adults with specialized training in arts and crafts, life coaching or test preparation.
  • Health and wellness: Become a personal trainer to get people in the best shape of their lives or a mental health counselor to help them find their inner peace.
  • Home and real estate: Transform homes by organizing, decorating or even staging. Produce virtual home tours for real estate agents, or become a realtor yourself.

Resources to start a business

For more resources and guidance on how to start a small business at home, check out these guides and articles:

  • Follow our step-by-step guide on how to start a business from the ground up.
  • Learn how to start an LLC if that’s your chosen business structure.
  • Discover how to start a business with no money so funding doesn’t hold you back.
  • Skip the overhead that comes with brick-and-mortar stores and find out how to start an online business .
  • Explore options to accept payments online and start making money in your sleep.
  • Find the cheapest payroll services to pay your employees and contractors.
  • Build a successful business by attracting loyal, repeat customers. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The cost of starting a business at home varies widely and depends on several factors. Some businesses, including sole proprietorships, can get away with paying little to no money to start their business. Other home-based businesses, including those with manufacturing or inventory expenses, could have considerably higher startup costs.

Yes, you can use your home address to register a business. However, you’ll want to make sure that usage does not go against local laws, HOA bylaws or property covenants. It’s also a good idea to check with your mortgage and homeowners insurance companies to make sure that running a business out of your home does not introduce unforeseen headaches.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Blair Travers

Blair Travers is a business writer and content strategist with over a decade of experience breaking down complex problems to help businesses move forward with confidence. He brings a wide range of technology, banking and retail expertise. Blair enjoys helping businesses figure out complex processes and make choices that are right for them. His work has been published in U.S. News & World Report and Carfax.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

Business Eric Rosenberg

70 Small Business Ideas for Anyone Who Wants to Run Their Own Business

Meg Prater (she/her)

Published: July 31, 2023

A good business idea may seem hard to come by, but with some planning and preparation, you can easily launch a small business to supplement your income — or become your own full-time boss.

Small business ideas symbolically showing the spirit of a small business

Maybe you already have an idea of the business you’d like to start. But while you might feel ready for a new venture and passionate about your idea, you might be looking for some direction.

Get HubSpot's Free CRM to Start Your Business

To help get you started, here's a list of small business ideas separated into a few sections:

Best Small Business Ideas

Best businesses to start with little money, home business ideas, easy businesses to start, how to start a small business at home.

The first step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is finding a business idea that works for you. In this article, you’ll find dozens of small business ideas you can start from home and scale up as your clientele grows. Let’s get started.

smart business ideas from home

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Fill out this form to build your business plan today., what makes a good small business idea.

Not all small business ideas are made equal: Some require more effort and funding than others, while some can be launched with few resources — or resources you already have. As a potential small business owner, you’ll want to save as much money as possible on training, rent, supplies, and other necessities.

Let’s go over what makes a good business idea:

  • Requires little to no training . A good small business idea will ideally leverage your existing field of expertise and require little to no training. That will not only shorten your time-to-launch, but also lessen your expenses, since training courses can cost a significant amount of money. Plus, you’ll be more confident offering services that you feel prepared to deliver.
  • Requires low setup costs. Your business should be cheap to start. Maybe you only need to purchase a website domain or buy a desk for your garage.
  • Requires little hands-on inventory or supply management . A great business idea needs few supplies and little inventory management. If you want to sell physical goods, you can either try drop-shipping and manually make goods in small batches.
  • Is based online . The best small business ideas are based online and can be carried out from your personal computer. This will automatically lower your commuting costs and give you greater flexibility over your personal and work life.
  • Can sustainably be managed by few people . As a small business owner, you won’t have the funds to hire other people to help you run your business — at least not at first. A good business idea should give you the ability to run your business on your own.

Airbnb Co-founder, Brian Chesky, said, "If we tried to think of a good idea, we wouldn’t have been able to think of a good idea. You just have to find the solution for a problem in your own life."

If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought about a solution for a problem you encounter in your life — or you’re on the path to doing so — then starting a small business may be in your future. It may also be for you if you dream of clocking out of your nine-to-five job for the last time and becoming your own boss.

Below, we include the absolute best ideas for you to start your small business — with resources and examples to help you get started.

1. Handyman

small business idea example: handyman

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Are you always fixing things around the house? Often on-call when friends need small projects completed? Create a website , conduct a competitive analysis to determine what your time and expertise are worth, and turn to the friends you’ve helped before for referrals.

A handyman business is a good idea if you’ve already built a robust set of skills to help others fix up their homes. Consider specializing in what you feel well-prepared to do — for instance, if you know your way underneath a sink and water system, then you might provide sink fixing services to start, then expand your offerings once you earn more skills.

No certifications are needed to become a handyman, and there are no special education requirements. You might need, however, a license if you’re planning to undertake jobs worth more than a certain dollar amount. Some states might not require this license.

To start your handyman business, we recommend the following resources:

  • Handyman License Requirements by State
  • The Most Requested Handyman Services
  • Association of Certified Handyman Professionals

2. Woodworker

Similarly, if you have a passion for crafting beautiful furniture or other home goods out of wood, that could be a small business niche for you. Get started by listing a few of your pieces on sites like Etsy . Once you build a following, consider starting a website, accepting custom orders, or expanding to refinishing work and upholstery.

A woodworker small business is ideal if you already have a passion for woodworking, as well as the tools to begin fulfilling orders as they begin to come in. Since delivering a well-made product is key to keeping your customers happy, you don’t want to be “training” as you create a custom shelf or a custom storage box. It’s recommended to have at least one year of experience as a woodworking apprentice.

To start a woodworking business, there are no special education requirements, but there are a wide range of woodworking training certifications online, so we suggest starting with a certification. The Woodwork Institute , YesTomorrow , and The School of Fine Woodworking are potential places to start.

3. Online Dating Consultant

Dating consultants usually charge for their time. They help people create successful online dating profiles, source possible matches from outside the typical online channels, and offer a level of personalization that a site like Tinder can’t. Think you’ve got a knack for the match? This might be the business for you.

Online dating consultants need to have strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as heightened levels of empathy. The good news is that there are no special education or licensure requirements, though we recommend getting a certification such as IAP College’s relationship coach certification or Hart Academy’s online dating coach certificate .

To start an online dating consultant business, you’ll need a website that shares all about you and offers free dating resources your customers might benefit from. Once they download a resource, you can loop them in for a free consultation.

4. Sewing and Alteration Specialist

small business idea example: sewing and alterations

People will always need clothing hemmed and buttons mended — and you could be the person to do it. If you love sewing and have a sewing machine at home, start by offering simple services like those mentioned above and expand your repertoire to dressmaking and design as you build a customer base and demand.

You don’t need a special license or degree to begin a sewing and alterations business, but it’s essential to build your skills so you can take on more complicated projects. High-value clients will want to customize complicated items of clothing such as suits, pants, gowns, and dresses. That’s where you’ll see the highest potential for profits.

Altering these items require special skills, however. A few courses you might consider include:

  • International Open Academy's Tailoring Course for Beginners
  • Jackson Sewing Academy’s Basic Alterations Course
  • American Bespoke Tailoring Academy’s Programs

You’ll also need to shop for sewing supplies of all colors to accommodate your clients.

5. Freelance Developer

From building websites for other small businesses to providing technical support for certain projects, quality web development is in high demand right now. As a web developer, you'll naturally have a technical skill set. Distill your knowledge and expertise so customers who don't have your experience are able to understand what it is you'll be helping them achieve.

To help with this, test your messaging on friends and family who don’t have a firm understanding of the work you do. If they’re able to summarize what you do, your messaging is likely effective among people outside of your industry. You can start finding your first freelance contracts by visiting different freelance websites .

Unlike a few other options in this list, a freelance developer does need some training to launch a successful business and start taking on projects, but if you’re a beginner, don’t worry. There are plenty of boot camps to get you up to speed with either full-stack or front-end web development. Some of these boot camps are even offered through accredited tech schools.

Some boot camps you might consider include:

  • Coding Dojo
  • Fullstack Academy
  • Georgia Institute of Technology Coding Boot Camp

These vary in price, so be sure to do extensive research to find one that fits you and your budget.

6. Personal Trainer

Offer in-home consultations, personalized nutrition and exercise regimens, and community boot camps to get the word out. Don’t forget to populate an Instagram feed with inspirational quotes, free exercise videos, and yummy snack ideas as well — it’s a common way for fitness gurus to build their brands in our digital world.

If you choose to go this route, it’s OK to start small at first, then scale up. For instance, MOURfit is a personal training business in Indianapolis that started in a shared gym, then grew to a private gym that offers group fitness, personal training, and nutrition services.

To start a personal training business, you’ll need a certification. If you already earned a degree in an unrelated discipline, we recommend starting with the NASM-CPT certification , which is nationally accredited and only requires a high school diploma or GED. You can also get a Bachelor’s degree in physical and exercise science — here’s one example from Emory & Henry College .

7. Freelance Graphic Designer

Set your own hours, choose your projects, and build a portfolio and business you’re proud of. From website design to blog graphics and more, many companies seek out experienced graphic designers for support on a variety of projects.

The good news? There are no special education requirements for becoming a freelance graphic designer, though we recommend seeking a credential (like SAIC’s graphic design certificate or RISD’s graphic design certificate ) or an Associate’s degree in design so you can confidently present your portfolio and complete your first few projects.

If you’re just starting out with graphic design, try these tips and tricks that are ideal for beginners. If you’re more experienced but need to build your portfolio to attract clients, these prompts will get your creativity flowing in no time. We also recommend reviewing other people’s work on portfolio websites to get a feel for what is “trendy” and receive feedback as you grow your small business.

Free Download: How to Hire and Work with Freelancers

8. Life/ Career Coach

If you have experience navigating career, personal, and social transitions successfully, put it to good use as a life or career coach. Many of us are looking for guidance in our careers — and finding someone with the time to mentor us can be tough.

Life/career coaches don’t come cheap, but they are able to offer clients the intense and hands-on training and advice they need to make serious moves in their personal and professional lives. After all, everyone needs some uplifting advice from time to time.

To start your life/career coaching business with confidence, you can look for a certification program (like the Life Coach School’s or Diane Hudson’s ), then apply your skills as you acquire new clients.

small business idea example: Career Coach Nariah Broadus

A resume writing business is economical, has few overhead costs, and has few educational requirements. We still recommend having an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and a few resume samples on hand. If you still feel that you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, you can take a course like Coursera’s or LinkedIn Learning’s .

Once you’ve gotten resume writing down, you can expand your business to include cover letter writing, and even offer career coaching services in conjunction with these services.

10. Freelance Writer

If you have writing skills , there’s someone out there willing to pay you for them. Write blog posts, magazine articles, and website copy galore — just make sure you have a body of work built up to share with potential clients. Even if you create a few sample pieces to have on hand, they’ll help exhibit your work and attract new business.

To become a freelance writer, it’s essential to choose a specialty. For instance, you might choose to only write for publications in the healthcare industry (maybe because you were previously a healthcare worker), or focus on lifestyle publications. Whatever the case, specializing will help you find your niche market and gain confidence as a new freelancer writer.

There are no educational requirements to freelance writing, but you do need strong writing skills. It also helps to enjoy writing. While a certification may beneficial, getting practice and writing every day is more important. Try these writing prompts to start.

11. Landscaper

Mowing, tree-trimming, and seasonal decor are all neighborhood needs. If you have or can acquire the equipment, a landscaping business can be a lucrative affair. It’s also a great choice if you enjoy doing it for your own home and have a good eye for landscape design.

The good news is that you can start small. For instance, you could offer your neighbors seasonal planting services and start with a few perennial plants, or simply offer mulching services.

To grow your landscaping business, you should consider taking some formal training. The following organizations offer courses:

  • New York Botanical Gardens

After completing a course and getting enough experience, you can apply for a certificate from a landscaping organization. While a certificate isn’t necessary to work in the field, it can build your credentials and help you make industry connections to take your landscaping business to the next level. The Association of Professional Landscape Designers offers one potential certificate you could pursue.

Some states require licensure, especially if you’ll be using pesticides and fertilizers. Be sure to review the requirements for your state.

Learn some of the basics now with this video on landscape design from Lowe’s:

12. Videographer

Video production requires you to have invested in the equipment up front, which can be quite expensive. But that’s also what makes your services so valuable. Make sure you have a reel of your work to share or create a website with several selections of your work available for interested viewers.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a video production business. As with writing and other creative arts, though, it pays to specialize. Real estate videos differ radically from wedding videos, and wedding videos differ radically from in-studio interviews and testimonials. By specializing, you target a highly specific customer who’ll benefit the most from your services, and you can also skill-up more effectively in one shooting style.

While you can find general classes on videography, you should consider taking a class in the type of videography you’d like to do. For instance, you could take The Complete Wedding Videography Course , if that’s the route you’d like to take.

Hot tip: If you’re interested in specializing in video marketing, check out The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing and download our starter pack below.

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13. Photographer

Start by conducting photo shoots for your family and friends. As you build a body of work, ask for referrals and reviews. Photography businesses often grow by word of mouth, so create a Facebook page where you can tag recent clients. Photos where you tag those clients will show up in their friends’ newsfeeds, where they can view your work. You can also ask them to leave reviews on your Facebook business page.

Like with a video production small business, you’ll want to specialize. Will you do product shoots or portraits? How about wedding or fashion photo shoots? Once you specialize, you’ll be able to create a body of work that most accurately represents your strengths.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a small photography business, but we recommend investing in a few photography courses, especially if you haven’t used your camera in a while. Some courses you might start with include:

  • Cornell’s Digital Photography Certificate Program
  • New York Institute of Photography’s Course

From there, seek courses that help you build skills in your chosen specialty.

If you’re not sure where to start with freelance photography, take a look at Erica Clayton’s journey into the business below. Her advice? Give yourself a firm deadline to turn a profit.

14. Bed and Breakfast Owner

small business idea example: bed and breakfast

This is another business venture that will require you to research the correct licensure from your state, but it will be well worth it to see your dreams come true. Consider what guests will be traveling to your area and create special packages and themed stays that coincide with their interests in your locale.

To start a bed and breakfast business, you’ll need a physical business location and a small staff for maintenance, customer service, and upkeep. For that reason, we recommend it if you have startup funds to start your business. (Don’t have any? Here’s how to start crowdfunding to launch your new business .)

A successful bed and breakfast business will also need an SEO-optimized website with a hotel booking system. If you create your website on the WordPress platform, you can easily create a B&B website using a hotel booking plugin — so there’s no need to code the booking form from scratch.

With Airbnb and hotels stealing market share, the competition is tough in the bed and breakfast space, so we recommend providing a unique angle to the stay. As mentioned, the stays can be themed — maybe your B&B is a vintage home with all original furniture, or maybe you offer traditional fare from your homeland.

15. Clothing Boutique Owner

If you dream of building your own fashion empire, why not start with a local boutique? Build buzz with impressive clothing styles, inspiring social media accounts, and heavy community involvement. While you can open a physical store, you can easily start online — and if that proves profitable, you can open up a local shop.

There are a few ways you can start a clothing boutique. First, you can make the clothes yourself if you already have experience in fashion design or know how to sew, knit, and curate colors and patterns.

Alternatively, you can design certain aspects of the clothing — such as a graphic or a logo — then send it to be printed on-demand at a local print shop when orders come in.

Lastly, you can dropship the items from a warehouse you’ve partnered with. This method is less reliable because there’s less quality assurance for each item, especially if you never visit the warehouses yourself. Regardless of the method you choose, starting a clothing boutique is highly doable, and you don’t need to have a fashion degree (though it certainly helps).

Take some inspiration from Sleep Ova , a luxury loungewear boutique based in Los Angeles, CA.

small business idea example: sleep ova

16. Specialty Food Store Owner

small business idea example: specialty food store

Gourmet foods, cheeses, sake, wine — you name a food, there’s a specialty food store out there for it. Put your passion for exotic olive oils to good use and open a store like American Provisions where you offer the kind of expertise and selection your audience couldn’t dream of getting from their local grocer.

To start your specialty food store, you’ll want to curate and source the items from makers that you love and trust. Ask around your community to find local makers of the food you want to sell, and the makers will likely be open to a partnership, especially if they get a cut of the profits.

When it’s time to sell, you’ll want to find a physical location, but if that investment is too high, you can start by setting up stalls at food festivals and local markets. Or you can go the ecommerce route and sell the products through your website, taking care to carefully pack perishable items.

17. Food Truck Owner

Always dreamt of owning a restaurant but not quite ready to take the plunge? Test out your concepts with a food truck. It’s a great way to become familiar with food and restaurant licensing in your state, see what people like and don’t like, and build a ravenous following before ever opening or investing in a brick-and-mortar location.

Food trucks will require a larger investment, but thankfully, you can rent the truck itself — the Food Truck Group and Roaming Hunger are two potential leasers you could look at. The cost will be high, so we recommend renting one in preparation for an event such as a food festival or concert. There, you’ll get to test out the popularity of your cuisine and see if the food truck business is right for you.

Taco Nganas , a taco truck in Memphis, TN, started with one food truck and expanded to three, building a loyal customer base along the way.

18. Car-detailing Specialist

small business idea example: car detailing

The devil is in the details, and you can be too. Car-detailing services that travel to the client are convenient for busy people who can’t find the time to run through the car wash. With this business, your clients only have to pay and the service will be done for them before they know it. Just make sure you have the flexibility, transportation, and equipment to take your business on the road.

There are no educational requirements for car detailing, but you should still take a course such as Auto Finesse’s detailing training to learn core concepts and brush up on your skills.

To get your car detailing business off the ground, you’ll need an SEO-optimized website and a way for customers to book online with you. Before you take that step, however, consider listing your services on websites like Angi , Thumbtack , and even Nextdoor.com so you can get your first local clients.

Don’t have a lot of money to start your business? Check out the ideas below.

1. Translator

Speak a foreign language? Start a translation service. Consider specializing in a specific genre of translation, like medical or financial translation, as you might be able to fill a niche need in your community.

small business ideas: translator

To become a translator, you should have a rock-solid grasp of two languages — ideally, you’ll be near native level for both. You don’t need special credentials to become a translator, but a certification (such as from the American Translators Association ) will legitimize your business and help you get clients.

Prior to gaining a certification, you can also pursue an online certificate, which will teach you the basics of translation. Some providers include:

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • The University of Arizona
  • University of Georgia

2. Garden Designer

Many people have the willingness to do the dirty work in their backyards, but few have the know-how to complete the first part of this process — designing and planning the backyard space. Draw up the designs for your clients’ outdoor spaces and let them do the actual digging.

But you can also offer installation services, or hire your own contractors to fulfill the design.

small business ideas: garden designer

To become a garden designer, you should seek at least one credential so you’re well-versed in the basics and prevent damage to a client’s landscape. The American Academy of Garden Design offers courses and certificates that start at $450. A cheaper option is New Skills Academy’s Garden Design Certification ($120).

Remember, the goal is to start a business for cheap, and a certification can have a high ROI after you book your first few clients for garden design.

3. Travel Planner

The time of the travel agent might be passing, but people are still looking for those with a knack for more nontraditional travel coordination. If you always plan the perfect vacations complete with beautiful hotels, the ideal location, and a bevy of delicious restaurants lined up for every evening, consider advertising your services as a more modern approach to travel planning.

You don’t have to only plan trips for individuals, either. If you’re experienced enough, you can even start a group travel company, like Art N Soul Escapes .

You can become a travel planner by first volunteering to plan a few trips for your family and friends. Try it and see if you like it. Once you feel like you’ve gotten a good taste, attend a travel planner program and get certified. Some options include:

  • The Travel Institute Training & Certification Program
  • Penn Foster Travel and Tourism Specialist Diploma

You can also seek employment at a travel agency first, then strike out on your own once you’ve learned the basics.

4. Home Inspector

A home inspector examines a house’s drywall, electrical wiring, energy efficiency, and structural integrity to find potential issues on behalf of a home buyer. Home inspectors work in the field. They visit homes in person and provide a written inspection report. Alternatively, some home inspectors offer virtual inspections, which may be a good fit if you’d prefer to work from home.

small business ideas: home inspector

Working as a home inspector requires certification and a great deal of expertise, but it can offer a flexible work schedule and stable income. Confirm the licensing requirements in your state before getting started with this type of small business. You’ll want to make sure you’re providing the best service to your clients by having all of your credentials in order.

To become a home inspector, you should invest in a certification program, such as:

  • International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
  • ATI Home Inspector Academy

Be sure to check local authorities and universities for a course.

5. Personal Chef

We all love to eat, but few of us have the time or energy to cook healthy, delicious meals. Advertise your services to local families and businesses alike. To save on start-up costs, consider scheduling certain groups of clients together — say, vegetarians — so you can cook larger quantities of the same dish.

You can also begin by selling food in batches at local farmer’s markets or via a food truck. Once you’ve generated some awareness, you can begin taking on clients. Alternatively, you can start a delivery meal prep service by cooking 5-7 days’ worth of meals for clients.

small business idea example: personal chef

Chef Paul’s mouth-watering dishes are available to clients across the country. His clientele niche consists of athletes, corporate businesses, and local gyms.

6. Property Manager

Many people maintain properties they don’t live in — often based in different cities or states. As a property manager, you can help a property owner ensure their home is well taken care of, handle small fixes as they arise, and serve as a liaison to renters. It’s helpful if you have a background in real estate.

This option is a great fit if you have stupendous organizational, administrative, and customer service skills. As a property manager, you’ll be handling everything from screening potential tenants to collecting rent.

To become a property manager, you must first complete coursework in your desired state. We recommend working at an existing property management company to get your foot in the door. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can then start your own property management business.

7. Massage Therapist

Soothe aching muscles and promote peace for your clients as a massage therapist. As a massage therapist, you’ll offer targeted, personalized care that’s an edge above in-shop or mall massage services. To start this small business, you should invest in customer service courses, as well as a massage therapy certification.

small business idea example: massage therapist

Be sure to look into training and certification courses in your city and state, and to invest in a portable bed to take on client visits.

8. Interior Designer

Similar to landscape design — there are many people who have the ability to buy the furniture and home decor they need to fill their rooms, but few who know where to start. It might take some time to build a portfolio, but documenting your projects and sharing them online can build a fanbase beyond your wildest dreams.

To start an interior design business, we first recommend trying your hand at decorating your friends’ homes and working with their vision and specifications. One big aspect of interior design is providing fantastic customer service and knowing how to fulfill a client’s design vision while employing your interior design expertise.

You can then take an interior design course to round out your knowledge, such as the one offered by The New York Institute of Art and Design .

Need inspiration? Check out Sandra Cavallo’s interior design Instagram account.

small business idea example: interior designer

9. Nonprofit Owner

If you dream of devoting your life to a cause you believe in, it might be time to start a nonprofit. You’ll need to incorporate your business and file for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status — and then you’ll be required to meet ongoing standards of compliance, but the payoff is making a meaningful impact on a cause you believe in.

The best thing is that you can begin a nonprofit easily from your home, even before filing for 501(c)(3) status. First, create a non-profit website (ideally with a .org top-level-domain). Define your mission and goals, and figure out how you’ll execute your non-profit activities. For instance, if you’re raising money to buy books for local schools, who will deliver them? Which retailer will you use? Start small, then expand.

Thereafter, apply for exempt status so that you’re not taxed like a regular business. The profit margins may be smaller, but the job is endlessly rewarding.

Whether you’re a math whiz, piano master, or Shakespeare aficionado, there’s someone out there who needs a little help in your area of expertise and is willing to pay for it. Advertise your services through local schools, community colleges, community centers, and even social media to get the word out and build a customer base.

To start a tutoring business, you should first gain experience educating others by either volunteering or even teaching friends and family. But you can begin straight away by listing your services locally and online and launching a tutoring website.

Be sure to define your niche. Will you be tutoring students in their homes? Or opening a local tutoring location? Which subject will you teach? Create handouts, use textbooks, and know which online resources will be best for your tutee’s learning style.

11. Consultant

If you have significant experience in or knowledge of a specific subject, consider becoming a consultant. Perhaps you’re an expert at hiring practices, have a knack for SEO , or have led multiple sales teams to six-figure success. Identify your expertise and market yourself as a consultant and charge the going rate.

Download Now: Free Consultant's Success Kit

Some consulting industries are more competitive than others, so be sure to complete your research prior to starting a small consulting business. One way to find out how competitive a consulting niche is by doing keyword search . If your target niche is highly searched or already is dominated by big companies, you may have a harder time breaking in. You can use keyword research tools to uncover keyword volume and local demand.

12. Event Planner

An event planning business is an excellent choice if you have great organizational and interpersonal skills, and it’s relatively cheap to start. You might choose to specialize in a specific type of event — like weddings or company meetings — or set yourself up as an event planner of all trades.

The good news is that event planners are always in demand. It’s not a job that can be easily automated, so this small business idea is set to thrive regardless of the digital landscape. To start, you’ll want to look for a platform that will easily allow you to advertise your availability, such as event planner directories like Eventective and WeddingWire .

If you’re highly organized, are detail-oriented, and have experience planning large events, it might be time for others to benefit from your skills.

13. Personal Assistant

Personal assistants help business owners and executives take care of administrative tasks. To launch a freelance personal assistant business, you should leverage networking opportunities on LinkedIn and attend small business events at local chambers of commerce. Most local business owners might not even know they need a personal assistant until you market your services to them.

If you’re an organized, highly-detailed person, the life of a personal assistant might be for you. Don’t want to be tied to one office or person all day, every day? Consider becoming a virtual assistant, which allows you a more flexible work environment.

To become an assistant, choose a niche — will you be helping women business owners specifically? Do you have a specific field of expertise, like bookkeeping? A website can also go a long way, and be sure to print business cards for you to hand out during networking events.

14. Consignment Shop Owner

If you have an eye for style but don’t want to invest in the inventory of a brand-new boutique, consider starting a consignment shop. It will allow you to curate a collection of clothing that matches your goals and aesthetic, without the overhead of a boutique selling entirely new garments.

The beauty of a small consignment business is that you can now start one online. You can sign up on a platform such as Poshmark , Depop , and even Etsy , then easily start selling your own used fashion from home.

Once you’ve defined your niche — such as vintage clothing, unique locally made art, or colorful shoes — you can begin sourcing new products from your local stores and thrift shops.

15. Caterer

If the personal chef gig is too restrictive for your schedule, consider catering instead. Pick your projects, work on fewer but larger events, and hone in on your time management skills.

Becoming a caterer is a natural step for those who are used to cooking for large events — for instance, you may have already catered your friend’s wedding, or brought a 20-person meal to a potluck (that counts, too!).

It’s essential that you have enough temperature-regulated storage for the meals prior to each event, and that you arrange for reliable, temperature-controlled transportation to and from your home kitchen. Alternatively, you can lower your costs by inviting customers to pick up their order at your home.

16. Gym Owner

Kickboxing gyms, yoga studios, CrossFit, oh my! Turn your passion for fitness into a community for others by creating your own gym — start one from the ground up, become an affiliate, or open a franchise location.

Available franchise opportunities include Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Pure Barre, Planet Fitness, Crunch Fitness, and more. Be prepared to take out a loan to finance your franchise — most agreements start with fees upward of $20,000. But the payoff can be tremendous due to brand recognition. You’ll have no trouble recruiting new members as long as you use local marketing strategies .

Alternatively, you can create a local studio, but ideally, it should be for a specific activity instead of general fitness. Yoga, pilates, bootcamp-style gyms, and martial arts perform well as independent fitness studios.

17. Boutique Agency Owner

What’s your specialty? Whether it’s marketing, social media, or PR, it might be time to start your own agency. Many other small businesses need this type of help but don’t have the resources or volume to necessitate a full-time position.

To start an agency, you would ideally have worked in your specialty for a number of years. You should also be prepared to interface directly with clients, fulfill their requirements, and temper their expectations (if they want results in an unreasonably short amount of time).

Consider building a small team and learn from other entrepreneurs who’ve successfully started their own agencies, like Duane Brown of Take Some Risk .

18. Coffee Shop Owner

Turn your caffeine addiction into something a little more lucrative. Opening a franchise or buying an existing shop are lower-risk entry points to the coffee game, but they usually require a little more cash upfront. Starting a shop from scratch requires more planning and work — but it also maximizes your earning potential in the future.

A coffee shop is an excellent fit if you already have a full-time remote job and wish to supplement your income with a small business. You can manage the coffee shop as you work at one of the tables, but be sure to have the budget to hire an experienced barista who can pick up the slack.

If you would like to open a coffee shop and run it full-time on your own, you’ll need to undertake barista training, understand worldwide coffee sources, and have excellent customer service skills.

19. Moving Company

A truck, moving equipment, manpower, and the correct permits and insurance are the building blocks of starting your own moving company . Before you buy your first fleet of trucks, however, start small with a moving van and keep your costs low.

Still sound like too much of an initial investment? Consider offering packing services only, which have a much lower financial barrier to entry. You can partner with moving companies and offer to do their packing, or have them refer clients to you.

You could even take a niche approach to the industry as Astro International has by offering international moving services.

small business idea example: moving company

20. Home Staging

If you have a flair for interior design, a staging service might serve as your creative outlet and professional calling. You can build a portfolio with little initial investment by staging homes using the owner’s existing furnishings and decor. Most stagers eventually build up an inventory of furniture as they become more established and network with area realtors.

To get your first home staging clients, you should first rely exclusively on networking. Find your local realtors’ association and attend their events with business cards handy. Once you’ve gotten your first clients and built your portfolio, you can begin posting your designs on your home staging website.

small business ideas: home staging

If you don’t yet have enough experience, be sure to pursue an interior design course before opening this small business.

These home business ideas give you a few more business options that are either based at home or online.

Frontend, backend, and every type of code in between, this skill requires no in-person interaction with your clients. But one skill you’ll want to carry over from the in-person world for this type of business is active listening. It can be easy to zone out while building a product, but developing a connection with the client is just as important as developing the code for their website.

If you keep the client top of mind when you can’t be around physically, you can ensure that you’re meeting their development needs with your coding work.

Download Now: 25 Free HTML & CSS Hacks

2. Vending Machine Owner

Since 2015, the growth rate for vending machine businesses has increased 1.4%. Even as social distancing restrictions are still in place, this business can still be lucrative if you choose the right locations. High-traffic is key — places like hospitals, schools, and community centers are smart places to start placing your machines to generate enough revenue to cover cost and turn a profit.

small business idea example: vending machine owner

3. Social Media Manager

Do you have a knack for social media? As a social media manager, you can use your skills to manage the social media accounts for companies and even individual people. Influencer marketing has become more common and many influencers rely on marketing agencies or employees to help them run their social channels.

→ Free Download: Social Media Calendar Template [Access Now]

4. Data Entry Clerk

Many businesses seek data entry clerks to help them enter information into their computer systems and spreadsheets. If you have strong computer and typing skills, this might be the business for you.

5. Audio or Video Editor

As of March 2021, there are 1.75 million podcasts available to listeners. For this reason, brands are turning to audio and visual content to connect with consumers. The catch is that many don't have the time to invest in the production of this content, or they don't have the skills to do it. Audio and video editors are in demand when it comes to producing quality content for hungry audiences.

6. Voiceover Artist

Speaking of podcasts and videos, many content creators recognize the value and level of professionalism that great voice talent can bring to a project. There are gigs out there for podcast intros/outros, narration for explainer videos, or even voice work for audiobooks. Learn how to get started with no experience from Kat Theo below:

7. Dog Walker, Groomer, or Trainer

Licensing and insurance will be the two most important factors in opening a dog walking, grooming, or training business, but your canine colleagues will surely make up for the initial red tape. To test the waters before jumping in, consider walking dogs through companies like Rover. Ready to run your own show? Consider a franchise like Dogtopia .

8. Candy Seller

If you grew up in a close-knit, southern neighborhood, you're probably familiar with the " Candy Lady ". This home business can be started by anyone who's trustworthy in the community. Aside from selling the most popular snacks, a candy seller can provide the neighborhood with fresh fruit and produce that may be harder to find if you live in a food desert.

Online Business Ideas

If you want a business idea that you can run entirely online, check out the ones below. These ideas are ideal for those looking for a passive income stream. In other words, you shouldn’t need to do too much manual work to launch these businesses from your home or preferred business location.

1. Become an online reseller.

To become an online reseller, all you need is some business savvy and some funds to invest in product stock from manufacturers — or, of course,the willingness to sell your own used items. Generally, this is a low-touch but high-performance way of creating a passive income online business.

Online resellers usually use a platform, such as Facebook Marketplace or Amazon Sellers, to sell either their own or manufacturers’ stock. The benefit of using Facebook Marketplace is that you can begin today with your own Facebook account, and simply list items that you already own.

Interested buyers typically drive directly to your home for pick-up — but if you’re not interested in human interaction, you can leave it outside and have the buyer pay via an online platform.

online business ideas: amazon seller

Amazon Sellers requires a little more up-front investment, but the yield is usually higher and you can turn your Amazon reselling business into a more passive income stream. Amazon allows you to buy stock from various manufacturers, which they then keep in their warehouses. When an Amazon user buys from you, Amazon will fulfill that order and then give you a substantial cut.

2. Try affiliate marketing.

An affiliate marketing business is a great fit if you already own a website or a blog you wish to monetize. We’ve already shared how blogging is a great business to start — if you’ve already bought a domain name and begun writing content, then using it to start your affiliate marketing business is a great option.

Affiliate marketers create blog posts and content that contain affiliate links. When a user clicks on that link, a cookie is added to their browser that tracks their activity for a specified period of time. If they make a purchase at the affiliate website, then you get a commission — usually recurring, if you’re selling subscription products.

There are countless affiliate marketing programs for you to start your online business. These programs come with many benefits, such as pre-made advertisements and lazy copy for you to use.

To create a viable affiliate marketing online business, you should choose the right blog niche , such as technology, household decor and organization, or fitness, and then find affiliate marketing programs that offer products your readership would be genuinely interested in.

3. Become a content creator or influencer.

Instagrammers, YouTubers, podcasters, and TikTokkers with more than ten thousand followers can eventually turn their accounts into a small online business that generates passive income.

As a content creator or influencer on social media, you can not only earn money from sponsored partnerships, but you can monetize your audience in other ways, such as creating Subscriptions on Instagram , allowing companies to advertise on your YouTube channel, or creating a paid-only newsletter.

online business ideas: content creator

Becoming an influencer or content creator takes hard work, but it can be a fun way to create a small online business, assuming you’re posting content that you enjoy creating. First, you should choose a niche, such as thrifted fashion, work-from-home hacks, or even industry tips. Then, you should learn how to become a social media influencer and digital creator , then create a social media content calendar .

Most importantly, have fun with this online business idea as you give it a try. The good news is that it has little overhead — all you need is a willingness to spend time on social media content creation.

4. Open a dropshipping store.

We’ve mentioned dropshipping a few times already, but this is such a great online business idea that it’s absolutely worth mentioning again. Dropshipping businesses don’t manufacture what they sell, or even buy stock from manufacturers in advance. Instead, wholesalers fulfill the order directly after a buyer places an order through your website.

Opening an ecommerce store can be forbidding for those who don’t want to deal with inventory management or supply chain logistics . Dropshipping is the best alternative.

The only thing you need is the willingness to invest in an ecommerce website builder and the ability to manage relationships with local or international manufacturers. From there, you need to only publish your site and advertise your brand via ecommerce marketing .

Learn how to start a dropshipping business here , with examples.

5. Sell print-on-demand products.

Print-on-demand (POD) is another way to start a dropshipping business, except it’s a little more frictionless because most POD services allow you to create a storefront right on their website, instead of you needing to look for a separate ecommerce site builder.

With a POD online business, you design unique artwork. The print-on-demand provider will allow you to place that design on t-shirts, hats, tote bags, phone cases, and more. You do not keep any inventory; instead, the POD provider will print it only after a buyer makes an order, then ships it directly to them.

online business ideas: print on demand shop

The only thing you need to start this small online business is a penchant for design and the budget to pay for a print-on-demand subscription (although most providers are free, and they simply take a cut of the sale). Get acquainted with design principles and color theory , and you can get started with this business in no time.

6. Become an independent author.

Think becoming an author is only for those who are extremely lucky? Think again. Whether you write historical epics or self-help guides, chances are that there’s a market to read your work, and you can now easily publish it online .

We recommend editing and proofreading your book, or hiring someone to do it, before self-publishing it. Then, it’s as simple as signing up on a self-publishing platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing or Barnes & Noble Press , uploading your file and cover, and pushing it live. You’ll enjoy benefits such as large royalties (up to 70%) and the ability to unpublish the book at any time, in case you find a typo or another change you’d like to make.

To get this online business idea off to a strong start, invest in an author website , spend some time doing social media marketing , and learn the basics of book marketing .

7. Sell downloadable digital products.

Downloadable journals, templates, art prints, designs… Some people would simply prefer to print these at home, instead of paying for the full price of the paper and the design. Downloadable digital products can be a profitable small business idea for those who are already design-savvy or who are willing to learn how to use an online design tool .

online business ideas: digital products

But if you’re not too crafty, you don’t need to create full-on journals or beautiful art prints, either; you can create templates for marketplaces such as Canva’s . There, people are able to customize a base design to their specifications, so you don’t have to worry too much about creating something specially beautiful — it’s more about functionality and customizability.

If you plan to create digital products that buyers can print at home, think about printing specifications, such as recommended paper size, paper weight, PPI (pixels per inch; a higher PPI results in better print quality), and so on. It’s essential to create a positive customer experience, even if users are ultimately responsible for what the final result looks like.

8. Publish a subscription-based newsletter.

We’ve already discussed becoming an independent author, but if long-form writing, such as novels, seems out of reach, you can always go for something much shorter and simpler: Newsletters. And the best part about paid newsletters is that you typically don’t need to have a separate website and blog; instead, you can sign up on a platform and begin publishing right away.

A website can, of course, benefit you, but the core of your revenue will come from the newsletter itself.

online business ideas: paid newsletter

With newsletter monetization platforms such as Substack or even Patreon , you can publish shorter content that features your opinion, experience, and expertise. We recommend pairing this small business idea with a robust social media marketing strategy , where your followers can learn more about you and be swayed to subscribe to a gated newsletter.

Choose a niche you’re passionate about, and this online business idea can feel less like work and more like a profitable hobby.

9. Create an online course.

If you want to monetize your expertise a little further for your online business, then creating an online course is the best choice.

To create a course, you’ll need to sign up on an online course platform such as WordPress or Teachable , sketch out a curriculum, film your lectures, and create worksheets and guides. You can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you’d like, but to make this online business as passive as possible, you’d ideally record all your lectures at once and allow users to access them by paying a premium fee.

If you’d like to try your hand at it first, you can try publishing a course on a platform such as Udemy and see if it feels viable to you. To become an online course teacher, you don’t need a specific level of education, but you should have a strong grasp on the material you’re teaching and a strong set of customer service skills to handle inquiries or course refunds.

10. Transcript videos, shows, and podcasts.

A freelance transcription business is an excellent idea for those who speak only one language and are passionate about improving communication. Transcribers listen to speech, write it out — usually verbatim — and deliver it to the original publisher in an organized document.

This small online business is a good fit for those who are looking for a part-time side business. You should be able to type quickly and have a good listening ear. Indeed has listed the top transcription companies where you can get your foot in the door.

Once you understand how the industry works, you can consider opening your own small transcription business and offering services on freelancer marketplaces such as Fiverr or Upwork .

Whether you’re looking to start your venture today or you simply don’t want to jump through the normal hoops of launching a small business, the below ideas are extremely easy to start — so easy, all you’ll need to do is sign up on a website or tell your friends about your services.

1. Vacation Host

Have you ever used a home-sharing service instead of a hotel? You could make a living by hosting visitors in your own home or renting out a room. Consider becoming a host with companies like Airbnb .

To become a vacation host, you don’t need any special skills except friendliness, courteousness, and agility (in case of guest emergencies or language barriers). A customer service course will prepare you to welcome guests and give them a pleasant stay.

You’ll need to invest in supplies and toiletries, such as new bedding and one-time soaps and toothbrushes, but the overhead is relatively small, and you can stop at any time.

2. Pet Sitter

Do you have a passion for pets? Consider becoming a pet sitter. While the pet's owners are away on vacation, either host their pet at your home or make visits to their home. Join a pet sitting service like Wag to get started.

small business idea example: pet sitter

If you start a pet sitting business, be sure to have some experience with dogs, cats, and other household pets. You should also choose a niche based on timing. For instance, do you prefer long-term arrangements? You can market yourself as an excellent vacation pet sitter. Do you only do single afternoons, or only on weekends? You can pull in clients by telling them you’ll take care of their pets during their dates or weekend trips.

3. Daycare Owner

Childcare continues to be in high demand. While nannies and nanny shares are popular right now, a good daycare is hard to find. Fill a need in your neighborhood by opening your own. And, as always, make sure you’re complying with your city and state’s zoning, licensure, insurance, and inspection requirements.

Home daycares are especially a good fit if you’re an experienced parent and have all supplies ready at home. But be warned that you’ll also need to buy more supplies to accommodate the additional children you’ll need to take care of.

We recommend getting a soft start with this business by advertising it first to your friends, families, and close neighbors. That way, you can better gauge whether it’s a good fit for you and whether you want to make the full investment.

If there’s a topic you have a heavy interest in, then there’s an audience out there with a heavy interest in it too. A blog can be used to build an online community whose engagement can be monetized. Affiliate marketing , sponsored content , and co-marketing are some ways to make money once your blog develops a following.

→ Download Now: 6 Free Blog Post Templates

Blogging is one of the most accessible small businesses to start, and there are countless niches to choose from. That said, because there are many blogs online, you’ll need to learn blog SEO and keyword research to ensure your audience finds you. That way, you actually make money out of your blogging efforts.

The great news is that a small blogging business has a ridiculously low overhead. All you need is a custom domain and your time for writing blog posts.

5. Home-Baked Goods Seller

Warehouse-made, store-bought chocolate chip cookies will never compare to a batch made with love in someone’s home. Simple desserts can be easily baked and packaged to sell at local events or around your neighborhood. Use custom labels and watch the word spread about your goods!

You can begin a baked goods business easily by opening a Facebook and Instagram profile. Facebook and Instagram are both excellent platforms to market your goods, show pictures of your previous baked products, and even showcase happy clients.

Build a loyal following slowly, and save on costs by asking clients to drive to your home to pick up their order. Choosing a niche can be helpful here, or baking in a specific style that can’t be found at grocery store bakeries. The overhead can be especially low if you already have most essential baking supplies.

6. Ecommerce Store Owner

Do you create, collect, or curate anything special? Consider starting an ecommerce store and turning your hobby into a full-time job. Whether you need somewhere to sell all that pottery you’ve been making, or an excuse to search for the sports memorabilia you love tracking down, an ecommerce store can make it financially viable for you to pursue your passion.

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Starting an ecommerce store is simple and easy. You can set up a shop using an ecommerce website builder , all of which start at a minimal monthly subscription (some even start at free). Be sure to take good photos of your products and write descriptive product pages .

If you don’t have inventory, you can always own an ecommerce store by using dropshipping . Instead of creating and shipping your products yourself, you’ll instead partner with a dropshipping website and have them mail out the orders directly to your client.

7. House Cleaner

With a low barrier to entry, house cleaning can be a great way to start doing what you love — soon. Consider advertising to homes in your neighborhood and get more bang for your buck by earning a few small businesses as clients as well. They’ll usually bring in a higher paycheck for a similar amount of work.

To become a house cleaner, you should be prepared to invest in cleaning supplies and accessories, or be willing to use your own. If you plan to serve small businesses, you should buy industrial janitorial supplies so you can get work done more effectively.

Need some inspiration? This small business cleaning service grew virtually overnight on Instagram after their content went viral during the pandemic.

small business idea example: go clean co

8. Packing Services Facilitator

Moving is always a pain, and many people hire the entire packing process out. As a packing services facilitator, you’ll be going to people’s homes and packing up their smaller items into organized boxes. To start this business, you must be comfortable with face-to-face contact and with manual labor.

small business ideas: packing services facilitator

You can begin this business by advertising in your own neighborhood. Once you’re ready to expand, consider partnering with a local moving service that will refer new clients to you. That way, you’ll have a steady stream of clients, and you won’t have to invest in a moving truck (the moving service will take care of that for you).

Business Ideas for Students

1. etsy shop owner.

Creating novelties by hand is a fun and unique way to start a small business, and you can easily sell them via Etsy . Whether you make jewelry, knitted comfort items, or even custom wigs , there’s probably a market for your products and an Etsy buyer who’s ready to purchase.

small business ideas: etsy shop owner

This idea is excellent if you’re already an expert in the craft you aim to sell. That way, you don’t need to pursue additional education or certification courses. Once you set up your Etsy store, which is free, tap into your audience with creative marketing on social media and optimize your website using keywords that describe the products you make.

2. Tour Guide

Love the local history of your city or state? Consider becoming a tour guide. Sure, you’ll need to conduct plenty of research to be able to do the job well, but that’s half the fun. Set yourself apart by offering tours that speak to a specific niche of your community’s history.

You can start a tour guide business easily. First, decide what your specialty will be. Some tour guides, like the ones at Freedom Trail in Boston , offer historical walking tours of their town’s most haunted spots while others curate guided foodie tours for guests to get a true taste of the city.

small business idea example: tour guide

Maybe you love the outdoors and are an experienced backpacker — you can then offer hiking tours. To begin, use a platform such as TripAdvisor or Airbnb, where you can sign up as a tour guide provider. Remember to launch a website, and to file for sole proprietorship status .

3. Online Class Instructor

Tutoring is often done in person and with one client at a time. Remotely teaching an online class offers more flexibility because you can teach multiple students from home. English is a common subject for online classes because of how many people want to learn it. But anything that you have a mastery over could be translated to a virtual class.

4. Small-Batch Goods Seller

Using organic, all-natural ingredients is more expensive, but worth it. There are many products you can learn how to make at home without any preservatives, chemicals, or toxins. Candles, soaps, shampoos, and moisturizers are some examples of goods you can create and tailor with custom scents. Try starting out making soap with this complete beginner’s guide to soapmaking:

5. Makeup Artist

Many people prefer to have a professional do their makeup because they may lack the proper products or just the skills. It may be for a special occasion, photoshoot, or video shoot, or another event. Being able to do a variety of different looks will make your business more attractive to more customers.

To run a successful makeup artist business, you’ll need to be social media savvy . Instagram in particular is an excellent platform to advertise your services and get new clients.

You should also consider honing in on a specific niche. For instance, you might do wedding makeup exclusively.

6. Professional Organizer

A lot of people struggle with clutter or disorganization in their homes and offices. It can be a large undertaking to create organized systems and habits. Grab a lot of storage bins and a label maker and get started!

To become an organizer, you’ll first need to have the chops: Is your own home organized? Do you enjoy making order out of chaos? Then, launch a website to market your services locally. Be sure to create local listings to ensure people find your business, including listings on Angi, Houzz, and Thumbtack.

Meg Golightly, founder at Gosimplified , has made this small business idea into a successful career.

Is your head buzzing with small business ideas yet? After all that brainstorming, you’ll need a practical plan to get started with your new small business.

  • Identify your small business idea.
  • Start as a side business or hobby.
  • Decide on your software.
  • Create a business plan.
  • Decide whether you'll be an LLC or sole proprietorship.
  • Create a business bank account.
  • Determine if your business idea works well from home.
  • Set up an office.
  • Get to work!

1. Identify your small business idea.

Whether you choose an option from the list above or have another idea up your sleeve, it’s important to have the experience, training, or skills necessary to be successful. Want to run a daycare but have never even visited a successful daycare center? Spend time conducting research to learn whether this is really the right fit for your experience, interests, and target audience.

2. Start as a side business or hobby.

Can you get your business off the ground as something you do in the evenings or on the weekends (a.k.a. a side job)? This allows you to make some mistakes, test the market, and understand whether your idea has legs before you quit your nine-to-five job and lose your primary income.

3. Decide on your software.

You’ve got a lot of things on your plate when first starting up. But one step that’s critical (and often forgotten by first-time entrepreneurs) is deciding on the software that can help you be more efficient as your business grows.

Every business is different — but almost all companies can use software to help with analytics, project management , accounting, bookkeeping, email marketing, and other basic day-to-day tasks.

One of the most important software tools every small business should utilize is a free all-in-one CRM platform to keep track of important customer information in one central database. It will help align your team and make sure you stay organized as your business grows.

4. Create a business plan.

No business plan? No business. Particularly if your small business idea requires investors, you'll need to draft up a business plan to provide an overview of your market positioning, your financial projections, and your unique competitive advantages. You can download HubSpot's free business plan templates for free to get started.

One-Page Business Plan Template

Download Free Business Plan Templates

Your business plan should include the following elements:

  • Executive summary — A high-level overview of your company and market placement.
  • Business model — Outline what your business does, who your business serves, and how your business is structured. You should include a description of what products and services you offer, and how they meet the needs of your customers.
  • Market condition — A summary of pertinent competitor information. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of your closest competitors.
  • Products and services — Use this section to describe your products and services in detail, and outline what differentiates your product from others in the market.
  • Operations and management — Outline your business’ organizational structure, key roles, and responsibilities.
  • Marketing and sales strategy — This section should describe how you will market and sell your product. Include information on your ideal customer, how you plan to position your offering, and your sales strategy.
  • Financial plan — Create a detailed outline of your business financials. Include your start-up costs, your initial financial productions, and how you anticipate generating funding.
  • Appendix — Once the above pieces are complete, end the document with an appendix summarizing your business plan.

Every business is different — but almost all companies can use software to help with analytics, project management, accounting, bookkeeping, email marketing, and other basic day-to-day tasks.

5. Decide whether you’ll be an LLC or sole proprietorship.

Two common legal structures for small businesses are limited liability corporations (LLCs) and sole proprietorships.

An LLC is a more complex business structure than a sole proprietorship and can include individuals, corporations, and other LLCs as members. Additionally, LLCs are not subject to a separate level of tax and offer the business owner liability protection and tax advantages. LLCs are formed on a state-by-state basis.

Sole proprietorships are businesses owned and operated by one person and are not identified as a separate entity from the owner by the government. While a sole proprietorship is the simplest business structure, sole proprietors are personally liable for their business.

Besides an LLC or sole proprietorship, there are a few other options for you to consider.

Sean Flannigan, Sendle's Content Manager, says, "While many small businesses might be best served by choosing an LLC or sole proprietorship, there are a few other options."

"Partnerships are great for businesses operated by several individuals. It hews most closely to a sole proprietorship in that the individuals take on the business liability and pay taxes on a personal level."

He adds, "To completely avoid personal liability, small businesses might choose to incorporate as a corporation, S corporation, or B Corp. S corporations avoid corporate taxation whereas B Corps must meet a threshold for public benefit and accountability."

Additionally, Flannigan says, "There are tons of great reasons to become a B Corp beyond just doing good business. All that said, many small businesses that aren't aimed at super-fast growth choose to go with an LLC to keep things simple while shielding owners from too much liability."

Learn more about choosing the right structure for your business from the Small Business Administration.

6. Create a business bank account.

Once you have a legally formed business and have been issued an Employer Identification Number (EIN), open a bank account specifically for your business. Having a business bank account is essential for keeping your personal and business finances separate which can help you gain an accurate picture of your business’s cash flow and financial health.

Additionally, keeping your personal and business finances separate makes bookkeeping and tax preparation easier.

Many banks offer business checking and savings accounts. Business checking accounts typically do not have a limit on the number of transactions that can take place, and issue a debit card that can be used for making business purchases. However, these checking accounts do not accrue interest.

Business savings accounts typically earn interest over time but have a limited number of transactions that can occur each month. When you’re just starting out, look for a business bank account that does not have a minimum balance requirement so you are not penalized for having low funds as you work to build your business.

7. Determine if your business idea works well from home.

Ask yourself whether your business idea will work well from home. Some businesses simply aren’t suited to be based from home. If you want to run a dog boarding center but live in an apartment without a backyard, you might want to consider a dog walking business instead.

8. Set up an office.

If your business idea is well-suited for being run from home, it’s still important you have a designated workspace. While a home office might not be possible, consider setting aside a corner in your living room or putting a desk in your bedroom for a space that inspires you and creates the conditions for success.

Need a more professional space? If you conduct client-facing work requiring you to be on video calls, no one wants to see your rumpled sheets in the background. Check out local coworking spaces for memberships that earn you access to conference rooms, desk space, and more.

9. Get to work!

You’ve put in the hard work and I’ve got good news — it’s only going to get harder. But most entrepreneurs will agree that the payoff of being your own boss, making your own hours, and working on projects that you’re passionate about will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

Starting a Small Business: FAQ

What are the types of small businesses.

The types of small business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations.

Which business type is best?

The best business type is a limited liability company (LLC). Operating as an LLC means that your personal assets are separate from your business assets. If your business goes bankrupt, your personal holdings won’t be affected. That said, it’s also one of the costlier types, requiring a fee paid to the state.

The easiest business type to start is a sole proprietorship. The main downside is that there’s no differentiation between you and your business.

How do I create a business idea?

To create a business idea, determine your skill set, work preferences, startup budget, and available resources. It’s important to strike the right balance between what you can feasibly offer and what you can feasibly afford in the short and long term.

We recommend starting with your skill set so that you can easily determine the niche in which you can effectively compete. For instance, if you have ample experience as a writer, you might consider starting a freelance writing business. But if you know you’d prefer to work with clients face-to-face, you might choose to start a ghostwriting business instead. That’s why it’s so important to take your work preferences into account, as well.

After that, take a look at your budget and determine the type of business you can start based on the resources at your disposal. For instance, you might not be able to afford a physical office or location, so a location-based business will likely not be a good fit. In that case, starting an online business is your best option.

What are some of the most successful small businesses?

Every small business has the potential to be successful and profitable, provided it’s backed by a strong product-market fit and a robust business plan . These two elements are essential. Maybe post-natal services are one of the most successful small businesses to launch, but if you live in an area with declining population or a large elderly population, then that small business idea won’t yield a high return on investment.

Think carefully about the market where you’re launching your business, and you’ll be more than likely to see lasting success.

What are the top growing small businesses?

top growing small businesses as reported by the bureau of labor statistics

The top growing industries are healthcare support, technology, personal care, food preparation, and community and social service. As such, launching a small business in any of these fields is bound to yield a high return on investment, but remember to take your target market into account.

Here are some small business ideas for each of those industries:

Healthcare Support

  • In-home care assistant
  • In-home elderly care provider
  • Psychological care provider
  • Pre-natal and post-natal support specialist
  • Freelance programmer or web developer
  • Freelance IT support specialist
  • Freelance cybersecurity expert

Personal Care

  • Hair stylist
  • Nail technician

Food Preparation

  • Personal chef
  • Food truck owner
  • Food delivery

Community and Social Services

  • Non-profit owner
  • Education specialist

Brainstorm Your Next Small Business Venture

Selecting a small business idea to work on is a personal decision. Money is important, but you’ll need more motivation than that to keep going. Bounce ideas off your friends and family until you reach the perfect idea that works for your schedule, fulfills your life’s passion, and makes financial sense. Don’t be afraid to ask for help throughout this process — and remember to have a little fun while you’re putting in the work.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Apply for a job, keep track of important information, and prepare for an  interview with the help of this free job seekers kit.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

72 home based business ideas you can start today

  • Rebecca Tomasis
  • Jun 22, 2023
  • 29 min read

home-based business ideas

Starting a business from home is becoming increasingly popular for new and experienced business owners. With the rise of the gig economy and digital technology, including online retail, there are now more opportunities than ever to launch a business that operates out of your home.

Whether you’re looking to supplement your income (see our guide on how to make money from home ) or start an entirely new career, home-based business ideas provide an excellent opportunity to participate in both the passion economy and the sharing economy.

Whether you have a home-based business, travel to your clients, or cram in a few hours at a cafe, the possibilities of avoiding the 9-5 office life are plentiful. In fact, in the U.S. alone, the most recent census (2017) found that 8 million people worked from home .

Starting a business from home is a quick and resource saving way to get a great business idea off the ground. Yankee Candles started off as a small business in the kitchen of Michael Kittredge's family home. Start small, think big.

It takes a self-motivated, highly disciplined person to make a home business successful. Of course you should choose a good business idea that suits you best. Fortunately, there are options available for all skill levels and areas of expertise (including business ideas for stay-at-home moms ). From the lowest overhead costs to the most elaborate ventures, and from freelancers to full-fledged business owners, here are the top 70 home-based business ideas for you to choose from and get started on today:

Pro tip: After coming up with business idea and before you get started putting this into action, take some time to read through the following guides. Begin by reading up on how to start your business , which includes everything from how to create a business website to promote your work. You might also want to check out some business website design inspiration .

Why start a business idea from home

There are many reasons why starting a business from home is a popular choice. Here we go over a few of the key reasons why:

Low startup costs. Starting a business from home can cost from just a few hundred dollars up, depending on which type of business idea you decide to run with. This makes the initial risk of starting a business much more minimal.

Flexibility. Business ideas that work from home allow for more freedom in terms of where you work from. They're often a good self-employment fit for parents with children at home, or for people who live in remote areas. Learn more about how to sell online .

Profitability. Small businesses started from home can grow and with less overhead costs, they can have great potential for profitability.

Easiest business ideas to start from home

Survey taker

Uber driver

Professional organizer

Personal shopper

House cleaner

Data entry specialist

Gift basket arranger

Freelance illustrator

01. Pet sitter

What animal-lover wouldn’t dream of this job? If your friends call you the ‘cat whisperer’ or you light up every time a cute dog passes you by on the street, you’d be crazy not to jump on this business idea . If you’re responsible, caring and organized, it’s worth reaching out to your social circle and online communities to offer your services. This is also an excellent option if you want to earn extra money on the side, or are looking for a job where you can multitask between other projects.

Median annual salary: $30,077

Read more: How to start a dog walking business , Business ideas for kids

dog walking home based business

02. Survey taker

Did you know that you can get paid for expressing your opinion? As a survey taker you’ll fill out forms with your general sense of the public’s opinions. To get started, create a custom email address specifically for this because you’ll have a cluster of emails coming your way. Then, reach out to a minimum of five trusted companies initially, as invitations from each can be few and far between and each one pays differently. Overall, don’t expect to make tons of money from this, rather consider it as a side hustle .

Median annual salary: $16,000

03. Uber driver

An excellent fit for social people who want to have control over their hours. Uber drivers responsibilities entail picking up passengers and safely delivering them to their destinations, as well as keeping their vehicles clean and inviting at all times. Based on a rating scale, you can become a crowd favorite and earn social respect fast if you do a good job. And with Uber, above other ride-sharing services, you’ll be working with the biggest network of active riders. Alternatively, if you don’t want to deal with passengers, you can work with Uber Eats and deliver food instead.

Median annual salary: $34,231

04. Professional organizer

If Marie Kondo, the Japanese organizing consultant, is your role model, then getting paid to tidy up others people’s mess could be your calling. Take this a step further and offer your clients tips to improve their organizational methods in the future. Whether it’s apartments or office spaces, the possibilities here are endless. The necessary criteria are communication, motivation and (of course) impressive organizational skills. You can also learn how to make money as a consultant .

Median annual salary: $53,000

05. Personal shopper

Your dream of getting paid to shop has just come true. If you have advanced knowledge of consumer goods and current trending products , you can consult or physically shop for others. From wardrobes to groceries to household interiors and more, take your fashion sense to the market and start making money by helping others.

Median annual salary: $32,808

06. House cleaner

You may not be working from your own home, but you will have a flexible schedule as a house cleaner. Whether you decide to work with one to two houses or set up an entire cleaning service (the choice is yours), the only requirements aside from the basics are that you should be a thorough cleaner and have strong communication with your customers. This can also be a great family business idea as it can be easily arranged around a busy schedule or a popular business idea for students , looking for part time and flexible work.

Median annual salary: $27,339

Read more: How to start a cleaning business

home based business idea home cleaning

07. Data entry specialist

You’d be surprised that a lot of documentation today is still done manually, rather than online. If you want to be a part of converting the stragglers to the digital world, it’s possible to earn an income by entering information from paper files to online computer files. Not to mention, you’ll be helping the environment by saving some trees along the way. The main requirement here is to be highly detail-oriented in order to make sure that no piece of data is left out from your transfer efforts.

Median annual salary: $34,355

08. Gift basket arranger

Gift baskets have become a popular present option for many reasons. They usually include at least one item everyone will enjoy, they can be highly personalized and you can get pretty creative with the items. Based on your customers’ needs, you’ll be able to craft boxes with different assortments. Start small by working with close family and friends, then you’ll be able to use your baskets as samples to get more clients. Take this a step further sell subscriptions to curated gift boxes on a recurring basis. Be sure to create an eCommerce website to sell your gift baskets around the world.

Median hourly salary: $16

09. Freelance illustrator

Take your creative talents and fly solo. Working as a freelancer in the illustration industry allows you to have more control over your work by spending time on projects that you choose, which ultimately will ensue more motivation. You'll have to create a mesmerizing illustration portfolio website that showcases past projects and experience in the field in order to be able to obtain new clients too. Illustrations can also be sold as digital products for extra income.

Median annual salary: $49,380

Business ideas from home with low startup costs

10. bicycle mechanic, 11. pet groomer, 12. music teacher, 13. college planning consultant, 14. babysitter, 15. elder care provider, 16. private tutor, 17. translator, 19. party entertainer, 21. publicist.

Do you have a knack for fixing things? As most people don’t, your skills are bound to come in handy. This is especially the case with bicycles, where 47.5 million Americans cycle regularly , and the number is continuously rising. You’ll be surprised how many people come your way when you market yourself as the ‘handy-man’ in town. Prior experience required is being able to fix bikes from multiple brands, weights and sizes. And if you can work on electric bikes, that’s an added bonus.

Median annual salary: $21,000

bicycle mechanic home based business

From cutting fur to nail trimming, shampooing and brushing, you can be in charge of helping man’s best friend to look fresh, clean and ready to strut their stuff when they walk through their neighborhood. This job is meant for individuals who consider themselves animal lovers, have a lot of patience and know how to care for pets properly.

Median annual salary: $38,033

If you’re gifted at making beautiful, rhythmic sounds come out of an instrument or your vocal cords, this is a way to channel your strengths and spread them to others. From piano to vocals, solfeggio and more, you could become a music teacher. Note that teaching is a skill of its own, so it will require patience, care, communication and fundamental knowledge of your craft in order to start a career or a side gig in this area.

Median annual salary: $46,744

One of the most stressful responsibilities for a high school student is figure out all the answers to their burning questions about college and their future. ‘Will they be able to afford it?’ ‘How will they get into their dream school?’ ‘What will they study?’ If you consider yourself organized, motivating and connected in these areas, your ability to help students navigate their futures can earn you a sufficient income.

Median annual salary: $41,735

If you’re good with kids, toddlers, or newborns, taking on this job is a great way to make a meaningful living. Whether you decide to work as a full time nanny or spend a few hours after school watching your neighbors’ kids, there is always a never-ending demand for work in this field. On top of having the skills and diplomas to work with kids, if you also take a first-aid and CPR course, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from the market by being a more trustworthy care provider.

Many day care centers often start from a home environment, before expanding and moving into specialized facilities. We love examples like this one . Make sure to do your research before starting a business as either a babysitter or daycare provider—always take legal advice and be sure to comply with local, State and Federal laws and regulations involving the care of children within a private home.

Median annual salary: $33,722

Read more: How to start a babysitting business

If you’re looking to step into a growing field, the senior care industry is it. Approximately 24% of the total U.S. popular will be 65 years or older by 2060 . And just like working with kids, this job involves being responsible, being trustworthy and having a knack for helping others. Here, you will need to provide hands on assistance with large responsibilities, such as meal prep, giving out daily pills, bathing, trips to the doctors and more.

Median annual salary: $23,874

Read more: How to start a home care business

Here’s an opportunity to provide assistance in a field you consider yourself gifted in, as well as able to communicate the process. From mathematics to grammar, languages and more, tutors are always needed at all levels of education, from grade school through post graduate studies.

You can choose to run online tutoring completely from home, and hold all of your lessons online. This also allows you to tap into a global demand for online tutors. Teaching English online for example, or music lessons, are always in high demand.

Median annual salary: $23,345

Read more: How to start a tutoring business

As more business and communication is going global, language barriers are one of the major obstacles in correspondence. If you’re fluent in multiple languages, this skill will serve you wonders in the job industry. Your assistance has most likely been requested before, whether on the job or through family and friends. Yet, now it’s time for you to start earning from it by taking on tasks from companies and individuals that demand these services to function.

Median annual salary: $47,190

This is a job that’s always in demand for individuals looking to mend their precious clothing, from fixing holes and loose threads to hemming skirts and pants—and so much more. It takes skill to work with different fabrics and lines of stitches, as well as sometimes redesigning or creating items from scratch. So, if you’re a needle and thread guru, this could be a great ‘fit’ for you.

Median annual salary: $32,560

The popularity of the entertainment industry is on the rise because having fun is a serious matter. Considering this, if your comic level or vibrant personality make you the life of the party, you might consider becoming a party entertainer. Whether you’re a clown, magician, balloon artist, cartoonist, comedian or something else, your talents will be requested in all areas of fun - just like this versatile performer, Shelley Siller .

Median annual salary: $23,290

If you’re unfamiliar with this term, you might recognize it under other names like ‘birth companion,’ ‘birth coach’ or someone that provides both emotional and physical assistance throughout and after pregnancies and birth. From breathing techniques to birthing plans, and communicating all of the procedures and processes involved, you can be a vital aid in helping women get through this incredibly exciting and stressful life-changing experience. Aside from the necessary training and skills, being a supportive, patient and responsive caregiver is crucial.

Median annual salary: $42,000

This job entails getting media coverage and managing the publicity of businesses, brands or public figures. If you enjoy working with the media, crafting promotions and consider yourself an excellent networker, you can make a living out of it from home (versus being employed at a big PR firm). Some of the duties and responsibilities you can expect with this job include helping each of your clients create a press kit, pitching stories to publications and following up consistently.

Median annual salary: $51,385

Unique home based business ideas

22. personal chef or caterer, 23. party planner, 25. video editor, 26. freelance photographer, 27. freelance graphic designer, 28. interior designer, 29. home staging professional, 30. florist, 31. voice over artist, 32. jewelry designer.

Are you a cooking or baking enthusiast? If so, your work can stretch further than delivering your neighbors fresh baked cookies or impressing dinner guests to a plentiful spread. You can start a business straight out of your kitchen by providing meals and goodies to individuals, households and events. Cooking skills, some basic business skills and a food-related website are required to kickstart your career here.

You can also take this to the next level by extending your home based cooking into the realms of Youtube and TikTok. Take inspiration from Chef Joshua Weissman whose cooking videos and cheap eat recipes have earned him a large social media following.

Go once step further again and combine cooking from home with a food delivery service, to make sure you really offer next level service to your customers.

Median annual salary: $45,929

How to start a food business

Food business ideas

catering service home based business

If you thrive on planning events, set your goals on turning it into your own business. From weddings to birthday parties, corporate outings and more. Most people don’t have time in their own lives to deal with all of the operational details required in order to make their events as extravagant as they wish for them to be. This is where you come in, with basic planning skills, organization, communication and more. You could be organizing caterers, hunting down event spaces, creating wedding websites and more.

Median annual salary: $33,092

Read more: How to start a party planning business

party planner home based service

24. DJ (disc jockey)

Do you have an eye for crowd-pleasing music? If you know how to mix songs and beats into flowing sessions that can keep a room full of people entertained for hours, this could be a great fit for you. And if you don’t have the skills but love the idea, you can take classes and practice with different DJ softwares to get started and feel it out. This is your chance to turn your hobby into a realistically paying job, just like this DJ did.

Median annual salary: $56,779

Read more: How to start a DJ business

DJ home based business

The power of video today is inevitably strong. Brands have come to realize that consumers are eyeing this content more than any other form. So, working as a video creator is certainly worthwhile. And if you’re passionate about production and know how to create engaging clips, you’re almost all set. Once you create a video website and market your talents, brands will start to build trust with you and your work.

Median annual salary: $50,584

video editor home based business

Here’s another hobby turned into a career. Photographers are needed across all realms, from weddings to businesses, magazines and so much more. Bring your talents to whatever field you specialize in, be it nature landscapes, family portraits, newborns, etc. Of course, you’ll need to be tech-savvy with the camera, but business and personable skills will truly keep your business afloat. For starters, you can create a photography website and add your portfolio so that every time you reach out to clients, you’ll be able to market yourself. Here are more tips to help you earn money as a photographer and some places to find freelance photography jobs online .

Check out this photographer’s site for more inspiration on how to get started with freelance photography from home.

Median annual salary: $35,726

Read more: How to start a photography business

Working in this field is one of the utmost creative feats. You’ll turn images, text, shapes and colors into company assets, like logos, business cards, posters, websites and other promotional items. If you’ve studied graphic design and are looking to pursue a career of independence where you can pick and choose your projects and clients, then consider flying solo. This freelance graphic design checklist will help you get started.

Median annual salary: $50,028

Are you constantly imagining ways to improve the spaces you enter, from offices to apartments and homes? Taking on the job of an interior designer will allow you to scale your visions into reality. You’ll be in charge of creating and finding elements that artistically fit together within a space. Oftentimes a level of schooling is required to get started, be it a bachelor's degree or a course. Ultimately, it’s about showing your clients how experienced you are and providing them with a vision and proof of your work.

Median annual salary: $51,775

Read more: How to start an interior design business

This job entails preparing homes and buildings for sale by “staging” the look of them via furniture, paint and accessories. Essentially its interior design, but for mock properties. Therefore, having an eye for visually pleasing design elements and colors is necessary for this job.

Median annual salary: $41,812

In Japanese, the act of arranging flowers is expressed through the term ‘Ikebana,’ or ‘making flowers alive.’ Such a vibrantly fulfilling job is great for creatives with a knack for arranging different types of flowers into uniquely packaged styles for events or sentiments. In order to work in this industry, a high knowledge of these plant species, the ability to arrange them in beautiful ways and work appropriately with clients, budgets and timeframes is required.

Median annual salary: $27,200

Read more: How to start a flower business

home based business ideas to start as a florist

This job entails working in the entertainment industry providing voice-overs for commercials, video games, cartoon movies, movie trailers and more. If you have a very clear voice and fit the tone, you just might get a job. This market is very specific though, and having the right connections sometimes helps more than specific work experience. It’s recommended to take theater or acting classes to sharpen up your vocals.

Median hourly salary: $47.31

Whether you already create jewelry or are considered a crafty person, this fun hobby can become a business for you. It’s possible to sell your goods online , in stores, at festivals and other locations. To do so, you might want to take some jewelry making classes for specific materials you want to work with, from precious metals to wire, beads, stones and more. You can look into selling crafts online if you want a more general idea of how to get started.

Median annual salary: $57,485

Read more: How to start a jewelery business

home based business ideas to start as a jewelry designer

Writer focused business ideas to try from home

34. resume writer, 35. blogger, 36. journalist, 37. freelance business writer, 39. copywriter, 40. grant writer.

If you feel strongly about your writing skills and have ideas for novels, it’s possible to take on writing your very own books as a profession. A job like this certainly requires strong grammar, organization and creativity, but also a lot of motivation to get past the rotating stages of writer’s block. If you set your mind to it, like almost anything else, it’s definitely possible.

Median annual salary: $62,170

Writing a resume is vital if you want to land a job in most fields today. Yet, many people claim to have trouble crafting their own. If you consider yourself an expert in spewing out marketable paperwork to attract employers, then this online business idea will prove itself beneficial to many eager job seekers.

Median annual salary: $35,000

There are many facts and stats that will tell you why starting a blog with a free blog maker is the way of the future. These reasons include generating more engagement and sales for businesses. It’s also become the norm for researching and consuming information online today (look at what you’re doing right now). And what’s in it for you? 45% of marketers outsource content creation , which is a justifiable reason to sit at your favorite café or on your sofa in your PJs and crank out excellent content for the Web. If you have the research and writing skills, along with prior experience, you can get started.

Not sure what to blog about? We recommend starting with something you love, start writing and go from there. We love how this blogger combines her love of wine and her dogs into one really interesting blog.

Affiliate Marketing is often used by bloggers to earn commissions from promoting other people’s products or services. It involves creating content around a product or service, and including an affiliate link in that content. When a customer clicks on the link and purchases the item, you earn a commission, making it a popular choice with bloggers and other content creators.

You can also consider turning your content into ebooks, that can be sold online or used to generate leads to a product or service. Self publishing is a great way to create and promote your own content online.

Median annual salary: $42,170

Read more: How to start a blog

Journalists have one of the most important jobs today, as they educate the public about matters happening around the world. The angle that they choose to take on a story can completely sway public opinion one way or another. That being said, a job in this field is certainly possible. Your responsibilities include thoroughly researching your subject matter and conducting interviews, then conveying all of this through strong writing skills. In this field, it’s about standing your ground and choosing projects that you feel passionate about and believe in. It’s an exciting and independent journey you will venture into. If photography is more your thing, you can also consider photojournalism which also works from home.

Median annual salary: $45,845

If you’re an experienced researcher and know how to craft your knowledge into beautifully written text, this job is a match for you. From writing blog posts to user experience text, marketing emails and more content-related material, there are many directions you can go with this. Writers either branch off from full-time content positions, or take this up on their own, but either way connections in the industry and previous writing experience to back up your claims is important to land yourself gigs. If you want to impress the businesses you work with and create a funnel for them to request your skills, create a freelance website.

Median annual salary: $42,120

A level up from writing content is being able to edit it for both grammar and style. So if you love the field, you might just enjoy making adjustments and improvements to others’ work. A job such as this one requires a high level of grammar and specific knowledge on editing styles. Oftentimes that’s learned on the job, but an editing course will give you a leg up among competitors. You can do this with articles, novels and various other mediums of written content.

Median annual salary: $59,480

Essentially the purpose of this job is to craft the written content for a company for various mediums, from blog posts to ads, newsletters and more. Unlike a business writer, your job is more concentrated on promotional marketing rather than entertaining. It’s a great fit if you love to write and are able to adapt to different companies needs and styles. Most companies need someone to create great content, so you will definitely be able to find work. Digital journalism has been on the rise for a long time and so plenty of opportunities exist.

This job is not the most creative, but it’s always in demand. Your duties would entail writing proposals for a nonprofit organization or institute of education to apply for financial assistance from the government, companies and others. Requirements include knowing the ins and outs of the organization you’re working for, and being able to write, submit and manage proficient grant proposals. Some jobs require degrees, and others are just looking for writing experience.

Median annual salary: $53,806

Beauty and wellness home business ideas

41. hairstylist, 42. fashion stylist, 43. beautician, 44. health coach, 45. wellness instructor, 46. massage therapist, 47. virtual therapist, 48. personal trainer, 49. fitness instructor.

Coloring, highlighting, cutting and styling hair is something you can totally manage from your very own home salon. If you’re passionate about the beauty industry and follow your state’s requirements for opening up shop (licensing, beauty school and certificate, etc.), there’s no doubt you can pamper guests and make them feel more glamorous from the moment they walk into your home.

Median annual salary: $24,850

Does your love for fashion shine through from your clothing choices to recommendations for friends and family? If so, it’s possible to sell your services and start helping others feel more confident about their looks and attire. You can sway this different ways, from high-end fashion to budget-friendly fashion and more. Some go to school for this, which is recommended, yet it’s possible to start a career without proper schooling by finding experience and educating yourself on trends and body types.

Median annual salary: $34,429

clothing store as a home based business

Like being a hairstylist, this is also a way to offer your services out of your very own home. This can include manicures, pedicures, waxing and more. If you are able to do one or many of these, clients will come your way. This is because home salons are typically less expensive than other options, and are naturally much more cozy. To make sure that you attract enough business and maintain a professional aura, create a beauty salon website.

Read more: How to start a beauty business , Beauty business ideas

This emerging market has grown to reach revenues over $6 billion in services . So, for those that love to study the most up-to-date nutrition trends and offer their companions advice for living the healthiest lifestyles, it’s possible to make a career out of it. Your job will entail working one-on-one in regular meetings with your clients, where you can help them define health goals and stick to them in order to maintain overall physical and mental wellness. In order to work in this field, you’ll need to take a course or study a nutrition-related degree.

Median annual salary: $48,239

Read more: How to start a coaching business

Meditation is the fastest growing health trend in America, and yoga isn’t too far behind. These and other tools of wellness are starting to spark the interest of more and more individuals as they’ve been proven to help reduce stress, improve concentration and aid in many other health-related issues. Entering this field is a competitive feat, but if you find your niche, you’ll be able to gain a following. In order to work as a wellness instructor, you’ll need to get a certification in the course of your choosing. You can then begin on your own, teach at a gym or studio, or work on a freelance basis with corporations. As you can see, there are many paths to take.

Median annual salary: $37,900

Read more: How to start a fitness business

If giving your time or gifts to others was always something that made you feel warm inside, providing these therapeutic treatments will be right up your alley. On top of just giving massages, you can also work with other doctors, from psychologists to chiropractors, physicians and more to be able to help your patients in multiple ways. In order to work in this field, you will need to obtain your license after taking a course.

Median annual salary: $41,420

massage therapist template for home based business ideas

If you’re already a working therapist but looking for more flexibility in your life, exploring this option is worthwhile. There are several ways were you can offer online therapy, such as through an application, video chat, voice calls, or messages (audio or text). Of course, you would need to be a licensed therapist to provide this kind of assistance, which means that you will need to obtain your degrees first.

Median annual salary: $79,010

If you enjoy working out as well as motivating others, becoming a personal trainer is a great job for you. A course is required to gain certification but after that you’ll be able to work on your own. Or you could apply to work in a gym, health center, or any other place of fitness.

Median annual salary: $33,120

Teaching classes can be even more fun than participating in them if you’re passionate about a sport. By taking a course in a specific sport/genre that you love, you’ll be able to learn the ins and outs, you’ll be able to gain the deepest understanding of that sport, then spread your knowledge to your students in the style that you want. It will also feel amazing to motivate others by doing what you love.

Median annual salary: $39,820

how to start a home based fitness instructor business

Successful at home business ideas

50. online store owner, 51. bed and breakfast owner, 52. online micro jobs, 53. bookkeeper, 54. tax preparer, 55. gardening business, 56. landscaping business.

Consumerism is increasingly on the rise. If you live in the U.S., or plan on selling goods there, you’ll be pleased to know that this specific market in the largest in the world. In 2016, it was valued at approximately $292 billion . The types of eCommerce business ideas are endless here, from the resale of consignment and vintage items, to selling handmade jewelry, clothes, wood work and more. With some knowledge of budgeting, marketing and sales, all that’s left to do is open your own online store .

Median monthly salary: Ranges from hundreds to ten thousands of revenue per month.

Read more: How to start an online store

If you love hosting guests, take it a step further and turn your home into your very own boutique hotel. This is an excellent option especially if you live in a popular tourist destination, from New York to San Francisco and more. To get started, you’ll need to have strong business and marketing skills, as well as make sure that you register your home business appropriately with the government. And lastly, create a hotel website for guests to be able to book a stay.

Dealing with guests not your thing? You can still consider managing vacation rentals or flipping property as other property related home business ideas.

Median annual salary: $30,959

bed and breakfast owner for home based business

This vague description can apply to many small freelance jobs, such as transferring website data, creating logos, building dynamic pages and more. Many experts from various backgrounds can find mini jobs here, such as social media, programming, app development, graphic design, photo editing and so many more gigs. You’ll discover these opportunities across various platforms, from Fiverr to Gigwalk and Mechanical Turk.

Median annual salary: Varies according to tasks.

If you’re a trained and employed accountant but would like to step out of the corporate environment and take on your own clients, this is a great option for you. Bookkeepers are always needed, especially for small businesses who can’t afford one in-house. By picking up a few clients, you’ll be able to turn this into a full-time job. And if you’re not experienced in the field, you can gain background knowledge by taking several bookkeeping courses from an online college or one in your area.

Median annual salary: $39,240

Read more: How to start a bookkeeping business

Filing taxes is a burdensome task to many that’s often delegated to tax preparers. It’s also a job industry that’s not going anywhere, as taxes will always need to be paid. If you have a tax accounting background and you are registered with the IRS as a tax preparer, you can start taking on clients and forming your own business out of this handy skill.

Median annual salary: $38,730

If you love to garden, this is another way to turn a hobby into a business. Profit potentials are high, especially if you specialize in a specific area, like organic farming or native plants. Many people struggle to grow their own plants, which means that they would definitely pay for the help. So whether you’re only setting up a garden for them, or consistently maintaining it, your services will be desired.

Median hourly salary: $25,290

Read more: How to start a lawn care business

Landscaping businesses are very common among suburbs and urban areas. They add an artistic touch to buildings that makes them more inviting. Skill requirements include various tasks, from cutting lawns to planting flowers and trees, and arranging stone sidewalks and other pathways. To get started, you’ll also need to invest in pricey equipment, yet the profits are completely worth it.

Median hourly salary: $27,670

Read more: How to start a landscaping business

Innovative home business ideas

57. web designer, 58. youtube personality, 59. social media influencer, 60. video game tester, 61. podcaster, 62. travel agent, 63. virtual assistant, 64. web developer, 65. app designer, 66. digital marketing consultant, 67. call center representative, 68. webinar instructor, 69. research assistant.

70. Virtual media scribe

If you have a knack for design and are considered tech-savvy, web design for business websites could potentially be something you can get paid for. Website builders like Wix will considerably ease the process for you with drag and drop features and hundreds of website templates which are ready to personalize. And if you’re already experienced in the field, you can hone in on more creative options with Velo . But how will you find business? You can apply to become a partner website designer and from there, obtain access to a community of clients in need of your website building expertise.

Median annual salary: $57,470

If you know how to use a camera and have an eccentric personality, making a name for yourself on YouTube might just be your calling. From tutorials and how-tos to comedies, mini-episodes and more, the options are endless. Use your imagination and hobbies, and see where you can shine. Producing this content isn’t directly what earns you money though, that’s a supplemental process obtained through ads and brand endorsement. In order to gain traction, first read up on this guide to starting a successful YouTube channel .

Hand in hand with being a YouTube personality comes video live streaming and gaming. Video streamers recording themselves playing games online, is how entrepreneurs such as Mr. Beast got their start, and it remains a highly trending business to start from home.

Median annual salary: Highly dependent on your success. Money is generated from the streaming platform, as well as from sponsorships, donations and brand collaborations.

Social media influencers are taking over the Web and replacing the power celebrities once had. This is because they are known for being authentic, which means that consumers can relate to them more. In order to become one, you have to consistently work extra hard at building a community based around your goal, whether it’s to promote fashion, sports, or any of your hobbies. You’ll then be able to start making money in several ways, from promoting products to becoming an affiliate, selling your own products (t-shirts, photos, other merchandise) and more.

Median annual salary: Highly dependent on your success.

If your eyes just lit up when you heard this option, keep reading. It’s no joke, you can make money by playing video games all day. It’s possible to work with video game creators to test out the logic of their games and to look for any bugs in the program. There’s no experience required, except the ability to continuously play video games for hours on end. Yet, knowledge of programming or computer science will give you the upper hand at understanding the game’s functions.

Median annual salary: $22,360

Learn more: How to start a gaming business

video game tester home based business

The podcast world isn’t that old as the first one was released in 2004. However, since then it’s become a worldwide phenomenon. From commuting to work to cleaning their house and more, many people love to absorb information strictly through an audio medium because it allows them to multitask. So, if you have the right equipment and an interesting topic or theme to discuss, consider learning f reelance and making your own.

Do you love to explore the world and work with people? Travel agents can do all of this virtually from their computers. In this role, you’ll be in charge of booking trips and activities for people. From hotels to flights, restaurants, tours, top attractions and more, you’re in charge of making sure that your clients have a good time and nothing to worry about while they explore. So, if you love planning trips (even when they aren’t your own), give this a try. Although no degree is required, if you decide to major in travel and tourism in college, it will help you earn credibility and have a better chance of finding employment in the industry.

Median annual salary: $36,990

Just like being an office assistance, this job requires answering calls and emails, planning meetings, making travel arrangements and more. Your tasks will vary depending on who you work for, yet the perk of this versus going into the office is being able to work out of your very own home. Although no degree or training is required, employers are looking for candidates that can manage their time well and have good communication and organizational skills. Other opportunities within this field include medical billing and auditing from home.

Median annual salary: $22,000

Learn more: How to start a virtual assistant business

Just like a web designer, one of your roles will be to design websites, however this position goes much further. On top of that, you’ll need to know more about coding and modifying content, from fixing bugs to adding applications and extensions and more. Agile knowledge of different platforms and coding languages ranging from Velo to Python is necessary as you’ll dive deep into the technical side of websites. Typically, web developers go to school for computer science engineering or programming in order to obtain this knowledge.

Also if you have the necessary qualifications and experience you might want to consider ethical hacking. This is where companies pay ethical hackers to hack their systems in order to identify potential weaknesses for less than ethical hackers to attack and exploit.

Median annual salary: $75,487

There were over two million smartphone applications available in 2018 alone. It’s a rising market as consumers are expecting almost all businesses to offer some kind of application. And lucky for you, many of those businesses are outsourcing this job, especially startups that can’t afford to hire someone full time. This is where you come in, if you have a background in app design and programming, which you’d typically obtain through a college degree in a related field.

Median annual salary: $56,737

From social media to email, SEO and more, digital marketing consultants help companies grow and become noticed by their consumers. It’s possible to offer this in house, for an agency, or start your own individualized work. If you have experience in the marketing field and can send your clients marketing plans and meet your quota, then you might consider going freelance and taking on several clients of your own, while working from home on your own schedule.

Median annual salary: $60,714

Learn more: How to start a marketing business

digital marketing consultant home based business

Customer service is an industry in constant demand with most of the employees working online. It’s possible to find a company that will allow you to work remotely. Your job would entail answering customers questions and fulfilling their requests, from solving issues to connecting them to the appropriate departments and more. This requires staying organized, having patience and working at a timely pace. Previous customer experience, problem solving and people skills are among the requirements necessary to work in this position.

Median annual salary: $32,890

Many people are interested in taking courses online to further their knowledge in particular subjects, from software training to language learning, coding classes, online marketing and and endless amounts of other topics. If you have the knowledge and teaching skills, you can offer this opportunity to people for a price by conducting virtual classes by creating a webinar or an online course.

Median annual salary: $58,758

Oftentimes institutions and businesses pay individuals to conduct extensive research for them. Depending on what you’ve studied and what the job requires, your responsibilities can vary. However, motivation, attention to detail, technical and analytical skills are among the most common requirements.

Median annual salary: $29,098

70. Virtual Medical Scribe

This job involves charting physician to patient interactions, especially during medical exams. Oftentimes, medical scribes are hired as it saves physicians the hassle of filling out paperwork and other pertinent tasks. Here, you’ll be in charge of tracking all of the client-related information, managing documents and data, booking appointments and other administrative medical tasks. This is a great position too if you’re in university, working toward a degree in the health field.

Median annual salary: $24,857

eCommerce business ideas from home

71 Dropshipping

72. Print on demand

71. dropshipping.

Dropshipping can be easily started from home. It's an e-Commerce business model where you sell products online without ever actually having to manage inventory or ship the goods yourself. When a customer purchases an item from your store, it's then shipped directly from one of your assigned suppliers. This allows you to start selling products with minimal upfront investment and no risk of inventory or shipping costs. Dropshipping is an inexpensive way to get started with eCommerce.

Median annual salary: $45,500

Learn more: How to start a dropshipping business

Print on demand is an innovative and unique business idea that can be started from home. With print on demand, entrepreneurs can set up a store online for customers to purchase items with their desired design printed on them. The company who you partner with will then take care of the inventory and shipping so that your business can focus on marketing and promotion.

Median annual salary: $55,637

Learn more: How to start a print on demand business

How to start a business from home

Starting a home business is an excellent way to make money and be your own boss. It can be a profitable venture, as long as you have the right plan in place. To become profitable with your business it is important to have a well-defined strategy that includes your planned marketing efforts, effective financial management and a quality product or service offering. With the right planning and idea, you can turn your home-based business into a successful venture. Don't forget your business name , business plan and registering your business . You'll also want. to consider your business financing, and what type of business to start.

How to promote a business from home

There are many ways to help your promote a home based business. Many of these involve tapping into the potential of online sharing and social platforms. Etsy for example is an online marketplace allowing you to connect with millions of potential customers. And then of course there's Amazon too. Instagram and Facebook are also invaluable platforms for home based business owners to market and sell products. Or if you're looking to connect with those looking for freelancers or consultants, Upwork and Fiverr are great places to start.

Your home business and online security

Many home based business ideas are completely dependent on the internet for their execution, management and promotion. This means any online business owner must be aware of the importance of protecting their website and computer from cyber attacks. Malware, phishing and DDOS attacks are common potentially destructive online attacks that can put businesses of all sizes at risk of identity and data theft, as well as interruptions to business continuity and operations. If you're considering a home based business idea, make sure your website builder prioritizes the security of your site and business.

Home business ideas FAQ

What are the 5 most popular home based business ideas.

In the US, 5 of the most popular at home business ideas include - starting an eCommerce store in response to skyrocketing demand for online shopping over the past few years; online education and tutoring, as demand for remote learning has also soared; freelance writing and content creation as many companies push their content marketing efforts; pet care such as pet sitting and walking; home based food businesses, including homemade food and cake creation.

What is the most profitable business to start from home?

What kind of business can i start from home, explore more business ideas.

Part-time business ideas

Craft business ideas

Reselling business ideas

DIY business ideas

Clothing business ideas

Small-town business ideas

Dropshipping business ideas

Business ideas for couples

Rental business ideas

B2B business ideas

Scalable business ideas

Business ideas for teachers

Recession-proof business ideas

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41 Online Business Ideas You Can Start in 2023

Rosalie Murphy

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Setting up an online business can help you become an entrepreneur without significant startup costs. The first step: figuring out the best online business idea for you.

What do you have expertise in? What do you love to do? Do you know someone who needs a type of support you could provide? Answering questions like these can offer inspiration as you prepare to start a business .

Here are 41 online business ideas to help you brainstorm. From side hustles to full-time enterprise, e-commerce businesses to services for remote clients, you may be able to run these from home on your own schedule.

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The 41 best online business ideas

If you're not totally set on going all-in on your online business, many of these ideas can be started part time. As you build your side hustle, it may be successful enough to turn into a full-time gig .

1. E-commerce store

Starting an e-commerce website is relatively easy and cheap — at least when compared with opening up a brick-and-mortar store. You can start with a limited amount of inventory, use an e-commerce website builder to set up your store, then market your products on social media and online marketplaces and see how customers respond. These platforms can also help you manage orders, ship your products and take online payments.

2. Social media marketing

If you’ve got a knack for getting likes, favorites, retweets, followers, shares, comments and clicks, then you might want to consider offering social media marketing services to other businesses. By consulting with companies to manage their social media profiles, spread their content across the web, keep their brands on track and respond to customer questions, you can turn your favorite hobby into your day job.

3. Freelance graphic design

Got an eye for aesthetics? Did you go to art school, or have you always spent your free time designing posters in Photoshop or Illustrator?

If so, then freelance designing might be a good choice. Take on clients at your own speed, build up a good reputation online and by word-of-mouth and work on projects that you find interesting.

4. Freelance writing

If you’re skilled in words instead, you might become a freelance writer . So long as you’ve got an internet connection and a keyboard, you can contribute all types of written content, from blog posts to feature stories to product descriptions. It helps if you’ve got a special area of interest or expertise so your employers will know you’re qualified to comment on certain topics.

» MORE: Best bank accounts for freelancers

5. E-book writing

With Amazon and other websites around, self-publishing has never been easier than it is today. If you think you’ve got something interesting or useful to say — and you believe other people will think so, too — then writing e-books could become a lucrative business.

With e-books, you don’t have to design, print or ship physical copies of your work. Of course, you will have to learn how to format an e-book correctly, pay for editing and cover design services and figure out an effective marketing strategy — but there are plenty of examples to learn from.

6. Translation

If you’re fluent in multiple languages, then translating could be the ideal online freelance job. You can do it from anywhere, so long as you’ve got the text you’re working on and you understand the goal of the translation.

» MORE: Check out 16 other e-commerce business ideas

Editing comes in many shapes and sizes, from copyediting a company’s marketing materials to proofreading novels to indexing academic manuscripts. As long as you have a sharp eye for detail, a strong grasp of grammar and a willingness to get in the weeds, then editing could be a great business idea if you’re interested in working when and how you want.

8. Writing a blog

Starting a blog can support other online business ideas by showing off your skills. Interested in coding, photography and video, fitness, food or anything else? Demonstrate your knowledge by writing great articles on those topics for others’ blogs.

If you choose to start your own blog, it can also generate revenue itself through affiliate links or advertisements.

9. Freelance researching

Whether you’re putting together documents for competitor or market research , answering tough technical questions on forums or analyzing statistics to point out trends, you can put your skills to work for your clients — with the freedom to work how you want.

10. Freelance coding and web design

If you’re seeking flexibility, diversity of projects, taking on work at your own pace and being your own boss, then freelance coding or web design for clients may be a good fit.

Plus, you can double down as a software consultant as well, offering your critical eye and expertise without writing code yourself.

» MORE: Best business credit cards for LLCs

11. Software and app development

Want to take freelance coding to the next level? Instead of helping clients, you can work on your own applications, programs, extensions and add-ons. Whether you sell your work in an app store or you’re holding out for the long haul and are hoping to get bought by a bigger company, the cash you make will be a direct result of your effort and ingenuity. App development is also a way to make money on Shopify .

Keep in mind, it’s not as easy to have a predictable stream of revenue until your app is already out and selling, and by then you’ve already invested a lot of time and energy. You’ll want to be sure that there’s a market out there for the product you’re creating, and that people are willing to pay for it.

12. Business coaching

You’ll need a good track record and a variety of testimonials to back you up, but if you’re already an entrepreneur, business coaching can provide an additional revenue stream. You can offer one-off sessions, small-group experiences or ongoing client relationships at a variety of price points.

13. College consulting

If you went to a top-tier university and have strong writing skills, you may be able to help applicants seeking admission to elite colleges. You might find yourself editing essays, steering students toward test prep courses and recommending scholarship programs, among other things.

» MORE: How to start a consulting business

14. Tutoring

For those studious entrepreneurs who scored highly on standardized tests, tutoring can pull in a lot of money without too much effort. The better your results, the better your reputation — which means the more you can charge per hour, session or package.

15. Online fitness trainer

If fitness and health is your passion, then serving as a fitness trainer to clients could be a fulfilling career. While training people online can be more difficult than being with them in person, this is an increasingly popular option for busy professionals. You can also consider related services like nutrition education.

» MORE: A step-by-step guide to starting a fitness business

16. SEO consulting

Maybe you’re a pro at SEO, or search engine optimization. If you’ve got loads of skill and experience in getting websites to rank highly on Google, and you understand how to turn searchers into customers, then there are plenty of companies willing to pay handsomely for your help.

Whether it’s by editing metadata tags, regularly updating the company blog or searching for smart keywords to rank highly on, a good SEO consultant can drastically change how a company’s website appears to search engine users — and just a few positions on Google can make a huge difference in traffic numbers. In short, you could have a big impact on a business’s bottom line, which means this online business idea is in high demand.

17. Selling handmade goods

If you’re handy or creative, you could craft your products and sell them on sites like Etsy, Amazon and eBay, straight out of your home.

Beyond that, if you’re a visual artist, you may also try selling print-on-demand products. That’s a type of e-commerce business where customers order mugs, T-shirts or other goods and with your artwork printed on them, then a third party creates the product and ships it to the customer.

18. Virtual thrift shop

Maybe you’re not into handicrafts but the idea of an starting an online store is still appealing? Selling clothes online using platforms like thredUP and Poshmark is one option.

If you're more interested in other types of products, you can scour local estate sales and secondhand shops for unique finds. You may also discover good finds on websites like eBay. As you present these products in compelling ways on your own site, good copywriting and a strong brand can go a long way to separating your site from the crowd.

19. Affiliate marketing

Social media pros, take notice: You can get paid by companies to highlight products on your blog, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or other social channels. The more followers or site visitors you have, the more of an impact your brand recommendation will make, and the more you’ll earn with product placement.

20. Accounting or bookkeeping

Although entering the industry as a virtual bookkeeper or accountant can be tough because of competition from well-known brands in the industry, it can be done if you have the credentials or target clients in a specific niche. You’ll also need formal training and certification, and it may take time to build up a committed client base — but once you do, your clients may be with you for years.

» MORE: See our picks for best small-business accounting software

21. Telemarketing

If you’re a natural conversationalist who likes helping others, virtual telemarketing is another good online small-business idea to consider. Plenty of companies outsource some of their sales and customer service roles, so if you don’t mind working the phone at home or on the go, then try this option out.

22. Online personal assistant

Thinking about becoming a virtual assistant ? What exactly you’ll do depends on what your skills, experience and network of contacts are, but you can expect tasks from data entry to customer management, research, scheduling and other duties.

23. Data entry

If you’re looking for a job that offers a predictable income without requiring intense creativity, then data entry might be a good place to start. Try looking at online job boards for opportunities.

24. Transcription

Offering transcription services online can take many forms: You can transcribe audio interviews for reporters, create captions for TV shows and videos or develop transcribed versions of podcasts. Services like Rev or TranscribeMe can also send you work as it becomes available, which saves you the work of cultivating your own client base.

25. Travel planning

If travel is your passion, you might consider starting an online travel planning business . You can help clients plan every aspect of their trip — from flights to hotels to activities. You can work on itineraries, give tips about food, currency exchange and safety, and serve as a point of contact between your clients and any international contacts.

Not only can you operate your travel planning business at home, you can also do it while you travel. And more traveling will help you grow your business — you might even start a travel blog or photography site to supplement your planning business.

26. Cybersecurity and IT consulting

As a cybersecurity consultant, you can work with businesses of all sizes to evaluate their systems, run testing and offer tips on how they can improve their set up.

For those looking for something broader, you might consider serving as an IT consultant, assisting businesses or individuals with their technology — helping them get it set up, troubleshoot any issues and offer general operating advice.

With the proper computer set up, you can run your cybersecurity or IT consulting business from anywhere — including potentially traveling to clients’ offices for occasional on-site system assistance.

27. Online therapy

With the emergence of companies like TalkSpace and BetterHelp, you no longer have to have an office or your own practice to counsel patients. Again, you’ll need training and proper credentials. But you can explore the online therapy space by joining one of these new companies or another practice that offers virtual appointments.

28. PR consulting

If you're knowledgeable about business branding and marketing, you might start an online PR consulting business. You can assist businesses with their online presence — including social media accounts, press releases, web content and more — as well as advise them on campaigns, initiatives and overall public image.

As a freelance PR consultant, your hours and responsibilities may vary depending on the specific clients you're working with; however, you'll have more control than you would as part of a firm or agency.

29. Podcasting

Provided you have the right audio equipment and a quiet space, you can record your podcast from anywhere. You can then upload your content to various podcast apps and market your business on social media. Once you reach a certain number of listeners, some podcast platforms will help you sell ads and you'll begin generating revenue.

30. Life coaching

Looking for a way to offer advice and guidance to people without needing the extensive education of a medical professional? Consider life coaching . Although you may need a certification to become a life coach, you have much more freedom to find your niche and decide how you can help people through life's ups and downs.

As a life coach, you can also create resources like e-books and courses to give your clients additional resources outside of traditional phone call or video chat meetings.

31. Video production

As a video producer, you can work with different clients in various industries to shoot, cut and edit video to create the perfect final product. Video production can give you the opportunity to explore a unique medium of storytelling and exercise your creativity.

32. Resume writing and career coaching

If you have a background in human resources, or just know your way around formulating the perfect resume, you might consider starting an online resume writing and career coaching business. You can offer clients advice and guidance on their career path, job applications, resumes and cover letters.

LinkedIn is a great place to get started with this type of online business idea, as many professionals look for career help on that platform.

33. Dropshipping

If you don't want the responsibility of creating your own products or buying inventory upfront, you might consider starting a dropshipping business. With this kind of e-commerce operation, you create your own website, choose products from suppliers, list them on your site, and when an order is placed, the supplier will ship them directly to the customer.

You can get started by browsing dropshipping marketplaces or trying to work directly with manufacturers and importers.

» MORE: How to dropship on Shopify

34. Recruiting

If you're a people person and have good online research skills, you might consider a career as a recruiter. As an online recruiter, you can service different businesses looking to hire new employees and help them find and screen candidates. The more experience you have, the higher-level positions you may be tapped to help fill.

35. Marketing consulting

As a marketing consultant, you can provide guidance on a wide range of topics, depending on your specific expertise, and help businesses execute their online marketing strategies and campaigns. This could include email marketing, social media management and advertising, local marketing , event planning and more. You can specialize in a particular industry or geography, or market your skills to a variety of clients using a network like Upwork.

36. Online fundraising or grant writing

Are you passionate about helping mission-based businesses, especially nonprofits, getting the assistance they need? If so, consider a grant writing business. This requires you to work with clients who need help fundraising to identify grants suited to their needs, then apply for and hopefully win them.

37. Online course teaching

You can find information about practically anything online, but sometimes when you're trying to learn a specific skill or topic, it just helps to hear or see someone else explain it. So if there’s a subject you have specialized knowledge of — a particular software program, a craft, a particular historical event — consider designing an online course. If you have formal qualifications like an advanced degree, you might be able to work with an online course service to teach courses online for their students.

38. Online cooking instruction

Do you have an affinity for cooking or baking? Showcasing your skills online via virtual cooking classes is a great way to earn money while doing something you love. There are a variety of ways you can structure your cooking business: You can offer one-on-one instruction videos, host live classes and even create workshops and cooking programs.

This easy business idea could even translate into a cooking blog, e-books, cookbooks and linking your favorite cooking and baking supplies through affiliate marketing.

39. YouTube channel

One way to promote your new brand, service or message is by creating a YouTube channel. If you feel comfortable on camera, have a spot where you can film and love the idea of reaching a wide audience, YouTube might be the right platform for you. Note, though, that it can take some time for your channel to grow and you'll likely need to network on social media and blogging platforms in the beginning.

» MORE: How to make money on YouTube

40. Voiceover work

To start your own voiceover business, you'll need a microphone, sound editing software and the ability to lend your voice to ad agencies, production companies and anyone else looking for a voiceover.

Then, you can sign up for a freelance voiceover site like voices.com and start searching for the right opportunities. Once you've gotten your foot in the door, you'll have excellent clips to show potential clients.

41. Start a team

If you've been freelancing or running your own company for a while, you might be ready to take the plunge and start your own team of consultants or freelancers. For instance, if you have years of writing and editing experience and can no longer handle all your client inquiries yourself, you might be ready to hire your first employee and expand your capacity.

How to choose an online business idea

These online business ideas represent a variety of e-commerce business models . To choose the right one for you, ask these questions.

How do you want to make money?

Lots of business owners seek out predictable, recurring revenue so they can plan their personal finances. Keeping clients on retainer can help with that. But affiliate marketing, advertising or product sales may be harder to predict. Creating a business plan can help you think through your options and decide which you’re comfortable with.

How will you find work?

If you’re selling your skills as a freelancer, consider searching sites like Upwork and Behance to find the right clients. Networking in your local community, joining industry-specific LinkedIn groups and asking for referrals can be helpful, too.

If you’re selling products or building an audience online, you’ll need different tactics. Search engine optimization can help get your videos or product listings in front of people who will be interested in them. But you may need a significant marketing budget to develop an audience that’s large enough to generate revenue.

How much autonomy do you want?

With some online businesses, like selling handmade goods or creating online courses, you’ll have control over your products from start to finish — which can be freeing but also high-pressure. On the other hand, when you’re producing work for clients, you’ll have to conform to the client’s standards — which may feel confining, but you won’t have to do the work of coming up with ideas yourself. Some solopreneurs aim for a mix of client work and self-directed projects so that they have steady revenue while pursuing their passions.

A version of this article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

One blue credit card on a flat surface with coins on both sides.

26 Great Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs

Table of contents.

Tejas Vemparala headshot

If you are thinking about starting a business , you should be considering whether your idea fills a need in the way people live their lives and approach their work. If you can identify an unmet need and a target market, then you might just have a business idea with legs. But how can you come up with a good small business idea in the first place? This list of business ideas includes 26 great types of business to help you find success.

Starting a business is a lot of work, but we’re here to help! Check out our useful resources for everything you need to successfully build your business from the ground up.

  • How To Start A Business: Step By Step
  • 11 Things To Do Before Starting A Business
  • Tax and Business Forms You’ll Need To Start A Business
  • Startup Costs: How Much Cash Will You Need?
  • 20 Mistakes To Avoid When Starting A Business

26 great small business ideas

This list of 26 great business ideas will help you get started on your entrepreneurial journey. Note that many of the ideas below only require you to have a credit card processing partner to get started, so you can keep upfront expenses relatively low.

Read on for some inspiration into the many types of businesses that could launch you to success.

1. Online reselling

Online reselling

If you’re interested in clothing and sales, you might consider starting an online reseller business . Although it takes time, dedication and an eye for fashion, you can start your business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time resale business. You could start by using online store websites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothing and items, then expand to your own resale website.

Consider shopping estate sales and flea markets for hidden finds at a low cost and then listing them for a profit online. You may be able to collect a substantial inventory of items that are in good shape for very little overhead if you’re diligent enough and search the right places.

2. Pet sitting

pet sitting

About 70% of U.S. families have a pet . When these families go away for extended periods, your pet-sitting small business can give them peace of mind. As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house. As part of the job, you’ll need to feed them, give them water, play with them, and (with dogs) walk them as needed. To help keep clients satisfied, you’ll need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.

If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting may be an especially apt small business idea. Almost all pet owners will be glad to let you work on your laptop while you spend time at their home with their pets, meaning that you can run two income streams simultaneously.

3. T-shirt printing

t-shirt printing

If you have a sense of fashion (or humor), you might enjoy launching a T-shirt printing business. You can also license someone else’s designs and screenprint them onto a blank tee. Either way, if you have space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary tools to get started.

T-shirt printing can be a great e-commerce business. You can allow customers to place online orders and sell T-shirts in bulk. This way, you can sell to customers around the country and even the world.

4. Cleaning service

cleaning service

If you like to clean, you can easily turn that into a business. With a few staff members, a host of cleaning supplies and transportation, you can offer cleaning services to homeowners, apartment complexes and commercial properties. Most cleaning services charge $25 to $50 per hour. Cleaning services are straightforward businesses that require relatively little overhead; you simply need planning, dedication and marketing to attract customers.

If you’re looking to differentiate yourself from other cleaning services, consider adding premium options like floor waxing or exterior power-washing for an additional fee. These services could be the deciding factor between your new cleaning service and seasoned companies that maintain too large a client list to provide that level of cleaning.

5. Online teaching

online teaching

The demand for online education has opened up possibilities for entrepreneurs. Since this is an online venture, you can choose any subject you know about and teach a course regardless of location. If you don’t have advanced knowledge in any particular subject, consider teaching English as a foreign language online to students overseas.

6. Online bookkeeping

Online bookkeeping

As with education, technology allows many bookkeeping services to be performed online. If you are an accountant or bookkeeper who wants the freedom and autonomy of running your own business, take advantage of modern technology to start your own online bookkeeping service.

7. Consulting

consulting

If you are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific topic (like business, social media, marketing, human resources, leadership or communication), consulting can be a lucrative option. You can start a consulting business on your own, then grow your business and hire other consultants over time.

8. Medical courier service

Medical courier

If you have a reliable vehicle and good time management skills, consider creating your own courier service – more specifically, a medical courier service. As a driver, you would be responsible for transporting medical items like lab specimens, prescription drugs and equipment. You could start your courier business on your own or hire other drivers to work for you.

The healthcare industry is expanding , which is a good sign for medical courier service job stability. There’s a wide range of client groups your business can serve, including hospitals, nursing homes, labs and private practices.

9. App development

app development

If you are knowledgeable and experienced in technology, you may want to consider a career in app development. Smartphones are an everyday accessory for many Americans that has increased the demand for mobile apps. Similarly, virtual reality software has become popular in recent years, so there is also a demand for VR app development. 

10. Transcription service

transcription service

If you have a good ear and can type quickly, a transcription service would allow you to work from home with a flexible schedule. Medical transcription services are especially needed as voice recognition technology proliferates for healthcare provider dictation. 

You can accept as few or as many transcription jobs as you’d like. This flexibility can be especially beneficial if you’re not looking to start all at once or if you have a day job you would like to keep for now. To boost your business prospects and justify charging more, consider becoming a certified transcriptionist and delving into a few specialties.

Medical transcriptionists typically charge 6 to 14 cents per line of transcription, which adds up quickly. The typical turnaround time for transcription work is 24 hours, so it’s important to stay on top of the jobs you accept. However, the ability to accept only a few requests at first means you can scale up as you are ready. Best of all, there is very little startup cost and overhead. You only need a computer, the appropriate software and a secure messaging service.

While not required, a medical transcription license can increase your business’s competitive advantage while expanding your customer base to include larger companies. Some service providers prefer that their transcriptionists have training from a certified program.

11. Professional organizing

professional organizing

Looking for a small business idea that can really spark joy? Professional organizers, like Marie Kondo, help people declutter and minimize for a living. In an age of materialism, many people are desperate to downsize and take control over their possessions. Minimalism is becoming extremely popular, but people often find it hard to part with things they’ve owned for a long time. Part of being a professional organizer is helping clients develop a system for downsizing.

If you’re a highly organized person who enjoys making spaces functional and comfortable, you might be good at coaching others to do the same. People will pay you to help them devise a method of minimizing their possessions and maintaining an organized space. To promote your business, ask if your clients will let you take before-and-after photos of the areas of their homes you’ve organized. If so, you can use those to create a portfolio that you can put on social media to attract more clients.

12. Freelance copywriting or content writing

freelance copywriting

If you’re a natural wordsmith with a bit of marketing knowledge, you can establish yourself as a freelance copywriter or content writer. Whether you write blogs, web content or press releases, plenty of companies will pay for your services. Increase your value by using SEO knowledge to help clients craft a strategy around specific keywords that their target audience is already using in their online searches.

Freelance copywriting is a great business to run because as long as you have an internet connection, you can work. It’s a business that you can operate from the comfort of your own home or even from the road if you travel. If you establish a large enough network and gain referrals from satisfied clients, you could even make freelance writing your full-time job .

13. Home care service

home care

A background in care and hospitality can go a long way to support housebound seniors who require in-home care. It’s also a service for which demand is only going to grow. According to the Population Reference Bureau, between 2020 and 2060, the 85-and-over population is projected to triple from 6.7 million to 19 million. The global number of centenarians (those over age 100) has already reached nearly 600,000. Many will need care and assistance, often in their own homes.

Luckily, you don’t need a background in healthcare to help seniors and grow a successful business at the same time, although those skills will be in demand as well. Many seniors need help with all kinds of tasks, like errands or repairs around the house. With some experience, you could consider growing your business to help seniors transition from their homes to assisted living facilities, offering services such as packing, transporting, setting up, or storing their furniture and possessions.

Senior home care is a rapidly growing industry. As a senior care provider, you can tap into this market while offering seniors premium care and assisting them with everyday tasks.

14. Translation service

translation service

According to research from IBISWorld, the translation services industry saw a decline in 2020, as did many industries; however, IBISWorld forecasts a “major uptick” for the industry over the next five years. That projected growth isn’t surprising, as the internet has opened up entrepreneurs in other countries to English-speaking markets, and vice versa.

This trend has created an opening for multilingual speakers to offer specific services, such as document translation and the translation of website information into languages for use in other markets. If you’re fluent in multiple languages, you could be successful in carving out a niche in the translation services industry.

15. Digital marketing

digital marketing

The importance of the internet grows with every passing day, but it also becomes harder for businesses to cut through the online clutter and properly market themselves. Digital marketing services are always in demand. Yet, many small and midsize companies would rather outsource them than establish a costly in-house team. If you have chops in SEO, content marketing, pay-per-click advertising, web development or social media management, you could seize a business opportunity that allows you the freedom to work from home.

Digital marketing is an important part of any brand, so you’ll need to respond to developments in your clients’ marketing strategies. Social media management entails watching for comments and messages around the clock, not just scheduling posts with a set-it-and-forget-it mindset. If you enjoy strategizing and implementing marketing plans meticulously, digital marketing could be the right business for you. You may also consider becoming an affiliate marketer, which is another form of digital marketing.

16. Owning a food truck

food truck

Food trucks come in all shapes and sizes, serving up a wide range of snacks and cuisines. Take your favorite style of food on the road, and sell your culinary passions directly to hungry customers. Sure, you’ll be working, but you’ll be in a space you’re passionate about, with a chance to connect to people who have similar interests. 

Starting a food truck is a great small business idea for entrepreneurs with a taste for the culinary. The overhead and upkeep for a truck is significantly less than for a restaurant, and you have the added benefit of mobility. [Check out our recommendations for POS systems for your food truck.]

Starting a food truck business can be profitable. However, there are some startup costs to consider, such as purchasing a food truck and modifying it to meet local regulations. If you’re interested in serving up smiles with a food truck, get more information in our guide to starting a food truck business .

17. Lawn care service

lawn service

If you grew up with a lawn, chances are your parents made you maintain it. For many, lawn care is bothersome, but for some it offers a sense of peace and serenity. Working outdoors with your hands to tame and beautify the natural landscape can be a rewarding experience, but since so many people find the work tedious, it can also be profitable.

Lawn care services require little more than some basic equipment, a trailer and perhaps some staff, depending on how many clients you have and how big the jobs are. You can grow a small lawn care service into a full landscaping company by offering premium services and establishing a reputation as a brand that does a thorough job with a smile. If you like working outdoors and creating elegant landscapes, this could be the business for you.

Some states require landscapers, especially those using pesticides, to have a license. Check your state’s requirements to help you determine if you need to obtain a license for your business’s services.

18. Rideshare driving

rideshare driving

If starting your own business seems daunting or too much of a risk, you can always use your car to become a rideshare driver. The overhead and responsibility of running the company fall on the rideshare service, giving you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want. Rideshare applications such as Uber and Lyft allow people to start side hustles that pay well and require little more than a willingness to drive people to their destinations and make occasional friendly conversation.

Rideshare drivers have the independence of a small business owner without the heavy workload required to manage behind-the-scenes logistics. If any of the other business ideas seem to require too much effort or upfront capital, ridesharing might be the way to dip your toe into the world of entrepreneurship.

19. Real estate

real estate

For many people, navigating the housing market is overwhelming. As a real estate agent, you can help people find their dream home at a price that fits their budget. In many states, you only need to complete a few months of classes and pass an exam to qualify as a real estate agent. Keep in mind that even with a certification, you’ll need strong social skills, so if you’re not a people person, this might not be the route for you. [Read related article: How to Become a Real Estate Agent ]

20. Graphic design

graphic design

Corporations, small businesses and sole proprietors all need eye-catching promotional materials, but not everybody has an eye for what looks good. If you have an artistic streak and know how to organize content into a visually pleasing format, start a graphic design business to provide flyers, digital ads, posters and other engaging visual materials. Graphic design requires few physical tools beyond a laptop and a desk.

21. Dropshipping

dropshipping

Not all companies that sell goods store them on-site. In drop-shipping, people who run e-commerce sites go to a third party to fulfill all orders. The third party is likely a wholesale retailer or other entity that runs a warehouse and shipping operation. The minimal inventory and tools needed for drop-shipping make it an especially great startup idea if you’re worried about overhead costs and physical space.

22. Personal training

If the gym is like your second home, you might want to share some of your expertise and help others reach their fitness goals. As a personal trainer, you can offer in-home training sessions that cater to each of your clients’ exercise capabilities. You can also help clients build customized nutrition and meal plans so their diets complement their physical goals.

Many personal trainers start their client acquisition process with social media pages that detail their experience in the gym along with some motivational quotes. While a certification can help expand your customer base, you aren’t legally required to have any specialized training to start this type of business.

23. Resume writing

People are always applying for jobs, whether they want to make a career shift, increase their pay or switch work environments. Of course, most job applications require candidates to submit resumes to detail their professional background. As a resume writer, you can help job applicants’ resumes stand out from their competition.

You’ll also help your clients create cover letters and portfolios that show off the best of their work. Plus, you don’t need any special schooling to be a resume writer – just some basic organizing and proofreading skills. If you know what makes resumes appear professional and ready for employers’ eyes, you’re already off to a great start.

24. Host a podcast

Podcasts have become extremely popular, with more than 100 million active podcast listeners in the U.S. alone. Best of all, you can start a podcast on any topic that interests you, from business to history to pop culture and more. Starting a podcast requires consistency and dedication, as well as a basic understanding of audio editing (and video editing if you want to start a companion YouTube channel for subscribers to follow).

Once your podcast has built up a substantial following, you can sell time to advertisers or establish partnerships with companies that generate revenue. As your brand expands further, you may even be able to charge to speak at events or moderate panels on topics your podcast focuses on. Of course, in order to get to that level, you need to come up with a unique small business idea that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about, and then make sure you can relate to your target audience . 

25. Launch a newsletter

If podcasts aren’t your thing but you like the idea behind building a robust list of subscribers and then selling space to advertisers and partners, consider creating an email newsletter. More than 90% of Americans subscribe to email newsletters . This means if you can capture the attention of a particular audience, you could build a substantial following and monetize it. 

To do so, come up with an umbrella topic you can write about at length, and then work to establish a brand voice and mission. Explore the best email marketing software that can help you manage your subscriber list and email sends, and then you’re ready to get started. Solicit feedback from your audience over time to give them more of what they want and less of what they don’t. After all, their continued engagement with your newsletter is what will help you build it into a successful business. 

26. Event catering

Do you have a passion for the culinary arts? If so, event catering may be a great business idea for you. There’s no shortage of people who need delicious food to serve their guests, whether that’s at parties, weddings, fundraisers, or family reunions. If you have a knack for cooking or baking and love to serve hungry guests, event catering could be a fun and lucrative way to do just that.

To get started, you’ll need to set up a menu and price sheet, as well as obtain all necessary permits and licenses. Start small to get the word out about your catering service, but when your food speaks for itself don’t be surprised if your business grows by leaps and bounds through word of mouth alone.

What are the most successful small businesses?

Small businesses that involve website design, a subset of digital marketing, are among those that make the most sales and bring in the most profit. People learn about businesses on the internet more often than via other avenues, so finding clients and a steady income stream isn’t as difficult. Cleaning services and real estate businesses also have high success rates, which makes sense – all people need homes, and they prefer them to be clean.

Some of the most profitable business ideas are website design, cleaning services and real estate.

What would be a good small business to start?

If you want to maximize your profit while minimizing your workload, try any of the small business ideas that most frequently prove successful. However, if you’re more interested in pursuing your passions while earning enough money to live, start a small business that fulfills you, requires you to use your skills and offers you a good work-life balance . There are so many great business ideas – and you know better than anyone what small business ideas will bring you happiness, success and stability.

How can I start my own business with no money?

You don’t need money to become a small business owner. The first step in starting a business with no money is to keep your current job and launch your small business as a side pursuit at first. Then, develop your business plan and analyze your consumer base, market and potential challenges. 

Near the final stages of planning, you’ll better understand how much money you need to make your business a full-time job. You can find this money through crowdfunding platforms and investors . Consider taking out a business loan only as a last resort.

You should also work with reliable professionals, including an attorney and an accountant. Most of the businesses on this list require particular permits or licenses, and legal counsel can help you make sure you do it all by the book. Meanwhile, an accountant is critical for managing finances properly, especially in the early days when you’re still establishing your revenue stream. While these professionals represent an upfront cost, they’re well worth it and can help you build a healthy business.

Choose a small business idea with low startup costs. If you still don’t have enough money, finance your business idea through crowdfunding or investors.

How do I start a small business from home?

Home-based businesses tend to be the most convenient and manageable ones. That said, not all great business ideas are suited for home offices, so make sure your business can be conducted from home – jobs with on-site needs and heavy in-person demands might not be suitable. In your business plan and budget, incorporate any office supplies and tools that make your online business ideas feasible, such as a separate business computer, a suitable desk, high-speed internet, filing cabinets and a business website.

What makes for a good work-from-home small business idea?

A good work-from-home small business idea boasts the following traits:

  • Minimal inventory and supplies: Presumably, your home isn’t a mansion (yet), and you have only so much space in which to store inventory and supplies. That means lawn care service is probably a no-go if you’re looking to work from home. The same might be true for T-shirt printing if you don’t have space to store your prints. Copywriting and graphic design, on the other hand, require little more than a laptop and a working internet connection, and you probably already have those.
  • Low startup costs : A viable work-from-home business shouldn’t cost much to launch. With minimal storage space, it’s not like you can pile up raw materials and inventory. You might need to buy some software or obtain licensure for certain small business ideas, but your financial obstacles should be few and far between.
  • Computer-based, online work: Many of the above small business ideas require the use of a computer with an internet connection. Drop-shipping, digital marketing and translation are all great examples. An exception to the rule is pet- sitting if you watch over pets at your house rather than the owner’s home. Then, all you need is a pair of watchful eyes and open ears. You can even do computer-based work while watching the pets.
  • Flexible schedule: Traditional office jobs often demand a rigid 9-to-5 schedule from employees. This schedule can feel less important to adhere to if you’re working from home , especially when you’re your own boss. As such, the best work-from-home small business ideas allow for a flexible schedule. If you do your best app development work at 3 a.m., who’s to stop you?
  • Modest collaboration needs: Although remote team collaboration is easy to achieve, working from home goes more smoothly when you’re almost fully independent. A small business in which you answer to just a handful of clients and one or two colleagues (if any) leads to greater independence. Then you can truly work on your own terms and see your small business idea through to full fruition.

What is the step-by-step process for starting a business?

Starting a business takes work, but with the right tools and guidelines, your company will be up and running in no time. Although your specific business journey will be unique to you, we identified a few steps that entrepreneurs can take to start their businesses.

  • Choose a business idea and find your niche
  • Analyze the current market
  • Create a business plan
  • Assess your finances and raise money as needed
  • Determine your legal business structure
  • Register your business with the government and IRS
  • Choose the appropriate business insurance policies
  • Hire employees and build your team
  • Choose your vendors
  • Market and advertise your business

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Good Financial Cents®

Home » Make Money » 47 Home-Based Business Ideas to Start Making Money Now!

47 Home-Based Business Ideas to Start Making Money Now!

Whether you are looking to quit the daily grind or trying to make extra cash as a way to get out of debt, starting a home business or side hustle can be the ideal way to meet your goals.

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Jeff Rose, CFP®

Jeff Rose, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™, founder of Good Financial Cents , and author of the personal finance...

The GFC® Money Expert Review Board

The GFC® Money Expert Review Board

The GFC® Money Expert Review Board is a team of financial experts who provide independent, unbiased reviews of financial products...

  • Updated: November 8, 2023
  • 20 Min Read

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Recent figures from the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that total private employment dropped by 15 percent once COVID-19 was declared an emergency on March 13, 2020, yet employment at small businesses saw a higher rate of decline at 17 percent.

The unemployment rate keeps fluctuating as the pandemic runs its course, but it’s likely the job market will be slow for a while. 

The truth is you don’t necessarily have to find a “real job” to move on with your life. There are a lot more ways to earn a living from home than people think, which you can do for yourself and entirely on your own terms.

This guide covers some of the best home-based business ideas, which range from one-off side gigs to actual businesses you can grow over time. Not all of them will work for everyone, but every single person can use one idea from this list to earn some cash without ever having to “clock in.” Some of the home-based business ideas are easy to implement, while others require a certain level of skill. 

The amount of money you can earn will also vary depending on the path you choose. For example, you may be able to earn a few hundred dollars per week delivering food with DoorDash or GrubHub. This gig is one that does not produce passive income , so you’ll only get paid for the time you work. 

With a digital media business or blog, on the other hand, you could build your business over time until it is earning millions of dollars. How do I know? Because I did it. 

Table of Contents

47 home-based business ideas to start today, online home-based business ideas, side gig ideas you can do from home, home-based business ideas that highlight specific skills, miscellaneous home-based business ideas, tips for running a business out of your home, the bottom line on best home-based business ideas.

Whether you are looking to quit the daily grind or trying to make extra cash as a way to get out of debt , starting a home business or a side hustle can be the ideal way to meet your goals. Fortunately, there are countless home-based business opportunities just waiting for you to begin. 

Skip ahead to read about any one of the awesome home-based business ideas we highlight below:

#1: Build Passive Income with a Blog

# 2: Become a Virtual Assistant

#3: Become an Online Freelance Writer

#4: start an online store, #5: piece together some micro jobs, #6: write and publish an e-book, #7: surveys during your spare time, #8: get paid to shop, #9: join a food delivery service, #10: mystery shopping, #11: start a catering business, #12: landscape design, #13: become a tour guide, #14: start a daycare in your home.

#15: Start an Elder Care Business

#16: Drive for Uber or Lyft

#17: become a dog walker or pet sitter.

#18: Travel Planning

#19: Start a House Cleaning Business

#20: start a voiceover business, #21: teach english to overseas students, #22: start a home inspection business, #23: start a massage therapy business.

#24: Start a Tax Preparation Business

#25: Become a Doula

#26: become a hairstylist.

#27: Start a Graphic Design Business

#28: Start a Bookkeeping Business

#29: start a copywriting business.

#30: Build a Translation Business

#31: Start a Grant Writing Business

#32: Do Medical Transcription from Home

#33: Collect Debt for a Living

#34: create homemade goods for etsy.com, #35: start a home-based organization business, #36: herb farming, #37: fix broken electronics, #38: become a tutor, #39: become a personal trainer, #40: teach music lessons, #41: rent out a room in your house, #42: rent out your car, #43: invest in real estate, #44: sell your stuff, #45: invest in stocks, #46: start a child proofing business.

#47: Remove People’s Junk

Some of the best home-based business ideas are ones that can operate entirely online. This lets you keep your overhead expenses at a minimum, but having an online business also means you can work from anywhere. Here are the best online business ideas you can try this year.

#1: Build Passive Income With a Blog

It takes some time to grow an audience and find ways to monetize your blog, but if you love to share your point of view with the world, you can make money blogging and work from home.

Niche blogs are a particular area of growth in this ever-growing profession. Pay can vary widely, but the income potential is nearly limitless. 

With a hosting platform like Bluehost , you could have your site up and running in no time. 

Want to start a blog for super cheap? Check out how my wife and I make money blogging and learn how you can make $1K Blogging .

#2: Become a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants take on a variety of tasks for their clients, which can include answering emails, creating documents, designing basic graphics, and more. Some virtual assistants also write and edit content, and they may even help their clients schedule content for publishing on various mediums. 

While many virtual assistants charge $50 per hour or more, even beginner virtual assistants can easily charge $20 per hour. 

Generally speaking, you can work as a virtual assistant through websites like Upwork and Zirtual . 

Everything you read online was written by someone, and there’s a good chance the writer was paid handsomely for their talent and skill. Freelance writers can easily earn a few hundred dollars for each article they write, but it’s possible to earn a lot more than that if you learn how to master longer and more complicated content.

The hardest part of getting paid to write is finding those first few gigs, although you can usually get started using a website like Upwork . Still, you should check out this post on How to Become a Freelance Writer , which is written by Holly Johnson. Johnson has been earning multiple six figures as an online freelance writer for years, and she has a free webinar and a course you can buy. If you need help getting started, you can read more at EarnMoreWriting.com .

It used to be that, if you had a product to sell, you also had to have a storefront and all the costs associated with it. These days, you can sell anything to anyone anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re marketing the organic honey from your backyard apiary or selling personalized linens that you embroider yourself, you can find a market for your products online.

My good buddy Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com has created an online course that walks people step-by-step through building their own online store . His wife was able to quit her job, and together their online business produces six figures in income each year.

With the advent of Fiverr , we saw a brand new way to assign and accept work. While many beginner jobs on Fiverr only pay $5, it’s possible to earn considerably more with this platform if you are able to secure more advanced gigs or pick up some regular clients.

Apps like Gigwalk and sites like Mechanical Turk also make it possible to cobble together a living with lots of little assignments each day.

The best part is, that you can set up work through all of these platforms online and from the comfort of your home.

Now that anyone can have their work published online, it is possible for anyone to make a fortune off their writing.

The biggest recent example is the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, but there are many authors taking advantage of the ease of e-publishing .

If you love to write and are willing to do your own promotion (and having a blog can really help in that case), writing an e-book is an excellent way to make money fast from home .

Did you know that you can earn money from surveys? 

While there are a ton of survey companies out there, my favorite is Survey Junkie . Depending on your demographics, you can earn anywhere from $2.00 per hour to $5.00 per hour completing surveys on Survey Junkie.

However, filling out surveys is not the only way to earn money on Survey Junkie! You’ll also become a candidate for focus groups, invited to watch videos and reviews, and even earn money by playing games! 

In addition to Survey Junkie, check out these other survey companies that will pay you to answer questions in your spare time :

Branded Surveys

  • Complete surveys and earn reward points.
  • Watch videos, answer surveys, shop, and more. $5 Sign-up Bonus

Inbox Dollars

  • Watch videos, answer surveys, play games, and more. $5 Sign-up Bonus

Online stores compete for your attention and are willing to pay for it. If you shop a lot online, this could be a viable way to make money from home. 

I’m talking about cash-back sites. One such site is Rakuten.com.

This is how it works: Let’s say Rakuten partners with Target. When you buy something from Target on Rakuten.com, Rakuten receives a commission. Because Rakuten wants you to return to their site, they offer you cashback. For example, if you bought a lamp for $60, Rakuten might offer you 3% cashback ($1.80). 

$1.80 doesn’t seem like much, but if you commit to always buying from cashback sites, the money will add up. 

Check out all the cash-back sites below and remember to shop on the ones you like!

  • Ibotta (Grocery Rebates)

Some home-based businesses require you to do “gig work” for other companies. These business ideas tend to be extremely flexible, meaning you can work whenever you want. You can also earn a base rate of pay and tips in some cases. 

When restaurants receive an “order for delivery,” they are responsible for delivering the food. If you’re a pizza joint or a restaurant that gets a lot of delivery orders, you hire employees to deliver your goods.

But what about restaurants that get takeout orders, but not enough to justify hiring a full-time employee to deliver the food? 

Leave it to technology to solve this problem. And perhaps your next business idea. 

Uber drivers take passengers from one place to another. Uber Eats drivers, however, take food orders from restaurants to customers. Exact same concept. Instead of the app pinging you that a passenger needs a ride, the app pings you that a restaurant needs food delivered somewhere. 

There’s a ton of these services popping up and drivers are making a full-time living from them: 

For many people, the idea of getting paid to shop is a dream come true.

There are many mystery shopping scams to beware of, however. Never accept a gig that requires an upfront fee—that’s a good sign it’s not legit.

According to the website Scambusters , legitimate mystery shopping can pay anywhere from $8 per job up to $50 to $100 per job.

If you love to cook on a grand scale, why not start a catering business out of your home?

How much you make depends on the scale of the assignments you take, and your ability to correctly decide how much your materials will cost.

But this is also an industry where you can start small and work your way up to bigger gigs — and profits.

If you’re never happier than when you are landscaping your yard, landscape design might be the home-based business for you.

This is a relatively new field, yet you can learn some skills for this type of work by finding a part-time gig with a landscaping company. From there, you can start building your own client base of people who want their landscapes to look wonderful without having to do the work.

You may love exploring all the fun corners of your hometown, but it might not occur to you to make that hobby a business.

This is an especially good idea if you can offer themed tours or other niche tours.

While it’s possible to create a website that advertises the tours you offer, you can also create “experiences” and market them on Airbnb.com. This will help you reach a wider audience when you’re first getting started, and it can also create some brand awareness about your tours. 

This is an especially good idea for stay-at-home-parents who need to bring in some money. You’re already staying home with your kids, so why not invite a few others to the party? Licensing for in-home daycare varies from state to state, but you will want to make sure you comply with your local regulations.

#15: Care for Elders in Your Community

In most cases, work-from-home elder care professionals make daily house calls to their patients to help with anything from meal preparation to minor home repairs.

If you have a heart for serving the elderly, you could build a lucrative career out of it. You can market your services by word of mouth, social media, and through listing sites like Care.com.

While the hourly rate for eldercare tends to be on the low end, you can typically work any hours or days you want with the right combination of gigs.

Driving for Uber or Lyft requires you to leave home for the day, and you’ll also need to have a newer, reliable car. However, we love the fact that rideshare work is so incredibly flexible. You can typically work any hours or days you want, and you can even drive for both apps (Uber and Lyft) at once. 

While pay can be somewhat unreliable, both Uber and Lyft pay a specific rate per mile you drive. You can also earn tips from generous drivers, and these tips can add up fast. 

Websites like Rover.com can help you become a professional dog walker or dog sitter. You can use this platform to line up enough pet-related work to fill a regular workweek, but you can also use it to find short-term gigs to supplement your income.

Many people charge $29 per night or more to watch dogs or cats in their home and pay for dog walking varies. Either way, this is fairly easy work that you can set up from home and in your spare time if you want.

Since most pet owners don’t quite have the stomach or the time to clip nails, bathe, or give haircuts to their animals, you could also find gigs as a pet groomer. With a couple of small tweaks to a bathroom, basement, or laundry room, you could even have a full-service doggy salon in your home.

#18: Become a Travel Planner

While anyone can check an aggregator site for the best price to fly to Saint Louis, planning a more elaborate trip might be too much for some travelers.

This is where a travel planner comes in, using his skills to find the best trip—including flight, accommodation, rental car, and tours—for the budget.

While this work has typically been done by travel agents, newer “travel concierge” services are popping up all over the place. With that in mind, you could get started in this business with a simple website and some basic marketing tools. 

With very low overhead and a skill set that is very easy to learn, house cleaning is one of the easiest businesses to start.

Depending on how much you want to grow, the income potential is pretty limitless. Most people who clean houses can easily earn $25 per hour , but it’s possible to earn $50 per hour or more if you’re able to clean quickly and efficiently. 

Reach out to people you know in your area to find clients, or post on your neighborhood Facebook page. Once you have a few clients lined up, it will be considerably easier to find more houses to clean via word of mouth and referrals. 

Some home-based business ideas require you to have a specific skill or years of experience. If you once worked in a specific industry and you have years of expertise under your belt, consider these home-based business ideas. 

We’ve all seen YouTube videos or Netflix shows where a narrator is describing the scene or event, but is never seen. This person is called a voiceover actor. And business is booming. 

Want to get in on the action? There are several ways to dip your toe into the entertainment industry, consider these sites below:

  • Back Stage : The largest listing of entertainment jobs in the country (actors, singers, dancers, etc.)
  • Kidscasting.com : Have a cute kid? Kidscasting.com lists jobs daily for jobs around the country requiring kids.
  • Mandy.com : Mandy.com lists voiceover work, film and TV crew jobs, musicians, and more.

I recently met an English teacher and asked him where he taught. His response? 

“Oh no, I work from home and teach students on the other side of the world in China.” 

Teaching English used to be a job folks would take as an excuse to travel. Not anymore! Nowadays, if you have kids and a home to maintain, why not take advantage of technology and teach students online?

VIPKid is an online teaching and educational company based in China. Chinese parents specifically want their kids to learn English from native speakers, preferably from America. 

Work your own hours. Earn up to $22/hour. No need to leave the house.

This is one business idea you may not have considered, but it’s a vital role that new homeowners everywhere depend upon.

An important part of the home-buying process is having a professional home inspector go through the house to determine the condition of the building and point out any potential problems.

A home inspector needs to meet the state regulations for the profession, which varies from state to state, although anyone who has worked in the construction or housing industry will have a leg up.

The median salary for home inspectors worked out to $64,480 in 2022, per figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics . 

While licensing requirements for massage therapy can vary from state to state, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork can help any budding masseuse fulfill their local requirements.

While it’s possible to work for a spa or medical clinic, massage therapists can either work out of their own homes or make house calls with a portable massage table. This makes massage therapy yet another field that works well for individuals who want to build a business from home.

#24: Prepare Taxes for People

No one likes dealing with their taxes, yet they need to be paid whether the economy is booming or tanking. This is why at-home tax preparation can be a great business for anyone with a tax background, or anyone willing to take training courses.

Since there are annual changes to the tax code, you will need to refresh your training each year, and you will also need to register with the IRS as a tax preparer.

This is more of a seasonal business idea than it is a year-round endeavor, but it can be a great way to earn some extra income each winter/spring.

A doula is a labor coach that can help a birthing mother in any labor environment, from a hospital to a midwife clinic to a home.

Doulas are non-medical professionals who offer information, emotional support, and physical assistance in the process of giving birth.

While licensing for doulas is not required by most states, getting certified by DONA International , the only certifying body for this profession, is a good idea.

Doulas do have to deal with unpredictable schedules, but they easily can do this work from home.

If you have experience cutting hair and giving manicures, opening up a shop from your home is an excellent way to start your own salon.

Make sure that you follow all of your state’s requirements for doing salon care in a home, as they can be stringent. However, having your own at-home salon can be fruitful since you won’t have to pay to rent an office space, and since you’ll receive the full amount of money your clients pay for services.

#27: Leverage Your Graphic Design Skills

Businesses always need graphic designers to help them convey information visually through logos, advertisements, posters, websites, and the like.

While it is possible to be an entirely self-taught graphic designer, most have either a certification or a degree.

Other than the cost of design software, this business has very little overhead and can be done anywhere with a dedicated computer.

If you have the type of graphic design skills businesses need and you have the resources to buy the software you need to get started, this might be the home-based business idea for you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , graphic designers have a median salary of $57,990.

This is a perfect business idea for trained accountants who would like to work from home, although it is not necessary to be a Certified Public Accountant in order to become a freelance bookkeeper. To work in this gig it’s only necessary to have the background knowledge that bookkeeping courses at any community college can offer.

This kind of freelance work is especially helpful for small businesses that do not need or cannot afford a full-time bookkeeper, making it possible for you to have full-time work through several smaller clients.

These writers put together promotional materials for businesses, including ads, websites, newsletters, commercials, direct mailings, and many others. Copywriters generally have a degree in advertising, marketing, English, or communication, but an excellent writer can do a great job copywriting.

While you can work as a copywriter for someone else, the fact that the bulk of this work can be done online makes it perfect for someone who wants to work at home. The hardest part of starting a copywriting business is getting the first few clients lined up. After that, you should be able to get more work through referrals and networking.

#30: Use Your Language Skills to Translate

If you know a second (or third) language, you can make a living at home translating documents. Also, note that many translators work on a freelance basis, so it’s possible you could create a translation business and then complete one-off work for a variety of clients.

Starting a translation business could be as easy as creating a basic website to advertise your services. You could also reach out to businesses in your area that might require translation from one language to another, or try networking in fields of business you believe may benefit from your services in the future. 

#31: Become a Grant Writer

Non-profits, universities, hospitals, and other community organizations all have a great need for grant money to supplement their budgets, but grants are notoriously tricky to write for the first time.

If you have experience writing grants or are willing to learn how to do it by practicing your skills without pay for a few non-profits, you can start a lucrative freelance grant writing business.

Grant writers can make anywhere from $73,985 .

#32: Do Medical Transcriptions from Home

The medical industry has a great need for individuals to transcribe audio dictations into coherent reports. Transcriptionists do need education—generally a two-year degree—to make sure they are clear on the arcane medical terminology.

You may be able to pick up your own medical transcription clients if you reach out to medical professionals in your area, but it’s also possible to be connected with medical transcription jobs if you sign up for a platform like FlexJobs.com. 

It takes a very thick skin to go into this business, but debt collectors only need a telephone and a computer to work, making it a great work-at-home business. It’s also a recession-proof (or even recession-loving) business.

Licensing requirements vary from state to state, so make sure you do your homework before setting up shop. Generally speaking, you will need to earn a debt specialist certification to find work in this field. 

Everyone loves handmade pieces of furniture. If you’re already spending time in your workshop, why not sell your wares? The same is true whether you are able to make other crafts like candles, home decor, or quilts.

Etsy is an excellent place to start selling without having to have a physical storefront. All you have to do is create an account, take photos of your items, and set a price. The only time you have to leave your home is when you have to the post office to ship your items to their new owners.

If you’re someone who reorganizes closets for fun, offer up your services to harried and disorganized individuals and businesses. You don’t need a degree to start an organization business, and it may not be overly difficult to get clients, either. All you have to do is create a simple website or Facebook group to advertise your services. You could also post ads on local social media pages, or on craiglist.org.

Gardening can be very relaxing, and potentially very lucrative. With both the increased interest in alternative therapies and the demand for locally grown and organic foods, an herb farmer can find plenty of customers, particularly if you’re in an urban area.

While herb farming does require some space for growing, herbs are fairly small and nearly any home can be slightly modified to allow for an extensive herb garden.

If you’re the sort who takes apart the computer for fun, operating an electronics repair shop out of your home is a natural decision.

In particular, repairing iPads and other tablets would provide you with a great deal of business, as many tablet users are looking for a less expensive way to fix smashed screens and other damages that can be costly through the manufacturer.

A background in education is helpful for tutoring, but not necessary. All you really need is mad skills in one or more areas of study. With a ton of knowledge in a specific topic like math or science, you can help local students do better in their classes.

It should be easy to find work as a tutor. You can advertise your services in your local neighborhood, or even reach out to local schools. 

If you have a penchant for fitness and you love helping others reach their goals, becoming a personal trainer should come naturally to you. You could visit clients in their own homes, or you could meet them at a local gym. 

Either way, it’s common for individuals who want help and guidance to pay more than $50 per session for a personal trainer. If you can get a few clients set up on a weekly basis, you can earn real income with this home-based business idea.

Teaching piano (or guitar or violin or singing) lessons out of your house is a well-established way for stay-at-home spouses to make a little extra cash.

If Lois Griffin can do it, so can any musically-minded entrepreneur.

While you can teach music lessons in person, quite a few websites also let you market your services or even teach music lessons online. Some of the best options include Live Music Tutor and Take Lessons .

Here are even more home-based business ideas you can try, although not all of them will work for everyone.

Airbnb, VRBO.com, and Vacasa are all examples of an online marketplace that arranges lodging options between a visitor and a host.

Let’s say you have a guest house or spare bedroom. Why not list the space on Vrbo and make that your business? 

What you can charge per night depends on the area. The more touristy the city and nicer your home, the more you can charge.

  • Simple, secure way to host your home
  • Estimate how much you could earn!
  • Let Vacasa care for your home & guests

It used to seem weird to rent out a spare room to a stranger, or to stay in a stranger’s home when you go on vacation. Thanks to the likes of Airbnb and others, these sharing economy services have shown us it’s not so scary! 

So let me ask – how do you feel about renting out your car? 

Think about it. Rental car agencies (Enterprise, Avis, Budget, etc.) are awful to deal with and too expensive. 

A company called Turo has disrupted the industry. People across the country are earning money from lending their cars out to strangers.

If you aren’t using your car for a couple of days, or if you have a spare one, simply join Turo’s free platform, list the car, and charge whatever you want for the day. 

Real estate investing may seem more like a “side business,” than a true at-home business. Over time, however, making money as a landlord from the comfort of your home is a great place to start on your road to self-employment.

Want to get in on the action but don’t have the experience or time? I recommend real estate crowdfunding. 

Real estate crowdfunding is when investors pool their money together to buy investment properties. Each crowdfunding platform is different. Some focus on commercial real estate, some focus on flipping homes, and others buy with the intent of collecting rent over the long term.

My guide on how to invest in real estate can help you get started. 

This business idea sounds vague, but that’s only because it’s widely open to interpretation. The root of the idea is related to the one above: People shop online a lot these days.

Why not be the one to sell them stuff? Below are places that facilitate online selling. Keep in mind, however, that to make it a viable business, you need to be consistently selling. So think big.

Maybe you could shop at local thrift or antique stores and resell items online. This idea requires creativity.

  • Gazelle : Sell used electronics
  • Worthy : Sell engagement rings and old navy
  • Decluttr : Similar to Gazelle, a marketplace for electronics
  • Poshmark : Sell jewelry, clothes, handbags, etc.
  • LetGo : Furniture, cars, books, computers, etc.
  • eBay : Create a store profile and sell anything!
  • Amazon : Make money selling stuff already listed on Amazon.

Similar to real estate, investing has long served as a way to earn a living without the boss or office required.  

That said, investing is a risky business (literally) so I recommend only those who are experienced and have a strategy to consider this idea. 

Fortunately, many of the top brokerage firms don’t even charge commissions these days. This makes it incredibly more affordable to get started and to keep your long-term trading fees at a minimum.

Keeping our kids safe is so important, but the details of how to do so can be confusing.

A professional childproofing business is inexpensive to start up, but there may be state regulations to follow. It’s also a good idea to apprentice with a child proofer in order to learn the business.

#47: Junk Removal

Anyone who has ever had the unenviable task of cleaning up a house for sale after the death of the owner knows just how important this job is.

Junk removal can be as simple as hauling away unwanted stuff to the dump, or it can be as complicated as separating out the trash from the treasures and handling the actual sale of the goods.

If you have watched Hoarders before, then you know how essential junk removal is. By starting your own business in this field, you can get a piece of the action and some of the profits.

Running a home-based business is a lot different than heading into an office for a 9 to 5 job. You’ll have to deal with considerably more distractions for starters, but you’ll also need to have a certain level of discipline to make it work. After all, you won’t have a boss looking over your shoulder anymore.

In addition to making sure you’re dedicated to your home based business idea and ready to put in the hard work, here are some additional tips that can help:

  • Have a dedicated space to work. If your home-based business idea is one that actually runs out of your home, make sure you have some separate space to work. This could be an area of your dining room where you’re able to set up a desk, or perhaps you have a basement where you could set up a dedicated office space. Whatever you have to work with, make sure you have a work area where you can go to focus on the work ahead.
  • Set a schedule. When you don’t have a regular job, it’s easy to keep putting off your work to the point it never gets done. With that in mind, it’s smart to set strict working hours like you would have if you worked for someone else. You don’t have to work 9 to 5, but you should have set working hours that never change. 
  • Protect your work time from family and friends. Don’t let family and friends sabotage your home-based business since they know you’re home. Make sure you tell everyone that you are actually working from home, so you cannot chat on the phone, run errands for them, or keep an eye on their kids. 
  • Keep your business financials separate. Once your business is up and running, we recommend taking steps to separate your business finances. This typically involves setting up a business checking account , signing up for a business credit card, and creating folders for receipts and other paperwork you’ll need to keep track of for business and tax purposes. 
  • Learn how to outsource effectively. This tip is for intermediate home-based businesses, but it is still important. As you grow your operation, you’ll want to figure out what you should outsource so you can spend more time on your business. This may mean paying a bookkeeper to keep track of your expenses, or perhaps even outsourcing cleaning and errands at your home so you have more time to work. 

smart business ideas from home

If daily commutes, coworkers, and cubicles don’t suit your fancy, why not try one of the home business ideas on the list?

When you work from home, you can call the shots, you set the standards, and you get the chance to pursue your professional passions at your own speed.

If you’re tired of waiting for an employer to create the job you want, then maybe it’s time for you to take control. With a home-based business, you can create the life you want on your own terms. 

About the Author

smart business ideas from home

Jeff Rose, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™, founder of Good Financial Cents , and author of the personal finance book Soldier of Finance . He was a financial planner for 16+ years having founded, Alliance Wealth Management, a SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, before selling it to focus on his passion - educating the masses on the importance of financial freedom through this blog, his podcast, and YouTube channel. Jeff holds a Bachelors in Science in Finance and minor in Accounting from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. In addition to his CFP® designation, he also earned the marks of AAMS® - Accredited Asset Management Specialist - and CRPC® - Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. While a practicing financial advisor, Jeff was named to Investopedia's distinguished list of Top 100 advisors (as high as #6) multiple times and CNBC's Digital Advisory Council. Jeff is an Iraqi combat veteran and served 9 years in the Army National Guard. His work is regularly featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc.com and Entrepreneur.

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92 comments.

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I felt that this information pertaining to self-employment will be a valuable source for me. I was seeking general ideas of what business would be most profiting for me and realistic. I am also interesting in using Amazon and eBay to distribute my products or services.

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Good options

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Thanks for the tips and inspiring video. I am going to share this site with my daughter who need some income, at least until a product she has produced starts selling. If she takes some of the advice given here, she may find a better way to do business. I am a retired executive director for non profits and I have been on boards since the early 80’s including a 9 stint on a national board. Consulting sounds like a plausible occupation! Thanks for your help and I plan to check back! Pat Pahoa, Hawaii

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“Home Based Business Ideas” No. 1 – Uber driver. Are you an idiot? Unless you remotely control your car, own a car, and can drive, how is that a home based business? You were number one in the google search results. Because of people like you genuine people in need like myself have the internet clogged up with garbage click bait affiliate laden BS. You’re ruining the internet and discouraging huge amounts of people from actually doing something to change their lives.

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I need a typist to type my presentation that go my Publisher. Am working on a new novel.

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Most of this work is total crap. Mystery shopping, surveys will earn you so little for the amount of time it’s worthless. There are a million bloggers so does anyone think they have any chance making ok money? If you do better have your head examined. Just to name a few/. The majority of people trying to launch these businesses will fail because these type of businesses have little chance to succeed.

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We are a unique dating software media company. We provide dating software to those that want to sell dating software as a business. Wondering how we can get added to your list.

Robert iDateMedia.com

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Would it be legal to have a car delailing and repair business out of your driveway…

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looking for opportunities that are available to work from . What about Tee Shirts

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Excellent and thorough list and article. Amazing and well done! Your SEO should be front page! Your too generous with the minimum ads as well.

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Hi, i need to start a business from home with little or none start up cost. I am based in Cape Town. Thank you.

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Here are a few more… Photography Car Detailing House Power Washing Window Cleaning Screen Repair and Replacement Handiman Elderly Care Assistant (Changing light bulbs, air filters, minor handiman, Putting out the trash, Walking their dog, ect. doing all the things elderly folks have trouble with or just check in on them daily.) as baby boomers turn elderly, this could be big.

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Another unknown money maker is making crossword puzzles. Magazines will pay a couple hundred to $1000 for them.

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I’m interested in Travel Planning

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You can add Data Entry in the list. That is the best home base job they can have. It was so easy and can be done by anyone.

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What can of a good business can a man do to earn money

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I am looking for work from home in the Accounting field. I have twenty five years of experience and three years of college majoring in Accounting. I live in Mobile Alabama I had my own Accounting business in Virginia If I can help you to balance your books , Work on line with Intuit please send me an email or call me Sincerely Cheryl Macaluso

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I want to start a home work as a translator from English to pushto and urdu and from pishto to english .

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I need to do an investment for manufacture something, I have the money, but not the idea.

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Hi Edwin – Maybe start by taking a look at products you really like, then see if you can improve on them somehow. Can you make it better? Can you make it cheaper? Can you deliver it faster? Can you find a market niche where the product will take off. It’s not necessary to come up with a whole new product, which is also very risky. But if you can take an existing product and make it better you’ll have a better chance at success. Also take old product and see how you reinvent them. That’s what Howard Schultz did with Starbucks. He virtually reinvented coffee, which is something no one thought could be done at the time.

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An encouraging article timely and much appreciated. Realized much more skills acquired over these years, hobbies that I have enjoyed could really help in these “retirement days “. Thank you!

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I have another to add to your list that’s almost as easy to do as going for a daily walk! Clean up litter outside commercial properties for property management companies. The work is done on foot using simple hand tools. I started this as a side gig in 1981 and grew it into a profitable full-time business that I continue to operate today. I share my experience in my book, Cleanlots, and offer free support.

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Pensioner at 63 female need to do something from home have to be home for my husband he needs me. I know English and Afrikaans i can type i have done debtors creditors wages not 100%computer literate but knows how to do invoicing letters wages etc on computer. I love speaking to people telephonically.i also have a valid driving licence

Hi Elizabeth – You might try searching the web (particularly Indeed.com) to see if there are any jobs offered in those areas. Search under “work at home” or similar titles. Otherwise you might put together an impressive resume of the skillsets you have to offer, and shop them around to small businesses. There are millions of online business who hire freelancers to do specific jobs. If you can get just one, you can build on it by adding others as you go along. That will enable you to move into it gradually, and at your own pace and comfort level. Good luck!

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I like below part

My good buddy Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com has created an online course that walks people step-by-step through building their own online store. His wife was able to quit her job, and together their online store produces in the six figures. If you’re interested in learning more, check out his course: Profitable Online Store.

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I enjoyed your article. One thing I noticed was a typo in the ‘Editing’ portion. The line should read “but any eagle – eyed writer could do (a) great job.”

It’s kind of ironic actually. If you ever need anyone to edit, I have a BA in English and would like to get back in that field.

Hi Sage – Our articles are edited, but items get missed by both spell-check and human editors. I ask for mercy on that front!

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Please send information on furniture buisness

Hi Michael – Your best bet would be to google that information.We’ve presented a summary list, but don’t offer specific strategies or “how-tos”.

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DONA is definitely not the only certifying body for doula training.

Thanks for sharing that Lindsay.

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An online business can save lots of money required for rent and expenses. Nearly anyone can start an online base business, as it is a comprehensive & beneficial.

The most trending businesses are; 1. Affiliate Marketing, 2. Facebook Page E-commerce, 3. Teaching online courses, 4. Social media consultant, & 5. eBook author: Publish your book online. Affiliate Marketing leads to be one of the strong and productive ways to make money online. There are a lot of online business ideas, but these five plans will be so obvious to start an online business without risk.

I just want to say that making money online is not simple.It requires a lot of substantial efforts and patience. Every option for business needs time. You should have in-depth information on the subjects as well. Then you will be in a form to act as expertise. Many users think that starting an online business is a simple job. But this story is completely mistaken. I have encountered lots of difficulties in my online journey but I never QUITED. I constantly blog in my own style. I personally doing Affiliate marketing with my current blog and it gives me a good result. I really enjoy it.

Anyways, thanks for sharing, beneficial for those who think that it is impossible to earn money from home…

Hi Akshara – You’ve given a lot of good advice. Though a home business seems easy (but yes, they ARE easy to start), it’s first and foremost a business. That means you won’t be an overnight success. It could take years before it earns enough money to live on. It might be best to start it as a side business. But always remember to run it as a serious business, and not as a casual hobby. One other thing about a business…the hardest part is getting it from zero to making money. You have to be willing to overcome that hurdle.

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This business ideas are really useful for me,I am going to select one of the job from the list to make money.keep doing this great work,keep sharing.

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So many ideas are there to start a business. All it takes is dedication & hard work to make it a success. Great job on the article.

Thanks Katy!

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I found interest in the business opportunities you’ve mentioned in your article. Most of them, Thank you. And, though, I never gave thought to most of them. However, there is inaccuracy in the “opportunities that didn’t exist 15 years ago.” I know because I was involved with them (e.g.,) eBay, online stores are commonly known as e-commerce, and affiliate marketing. Internet marketing (actually) started in the earlier 1990.s.

Hi Kevin – We should have said most of them didn’t exist. It is true that a lot of new opportunities are coming online all the time.

Thanks for the helpful list, recently I quit my 9 to 5 job, I am looking for a home-based business to make money, now I got some idea about that, I am going to create a blog to earn money, keep doing this great work. keep sharing with us.

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Great list here! Some are very out of the box great ideas. I did find great success working from home myself. All I do is refer people to our services from home. When customers pay their electric or wireless bill, I get a check.

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Thanks for a great article. One of the most comprehensive list of home business ideas I’ve seen. It’s got my creative juices flowing. Much Appreciated!

Terry Wright

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Thanks 4 this amazing insight into the Home-based biz. I woud appreciate that 10-step stuff. I’d like to know, what you think of network marketting. Is it sound?

Hi Bounama – Not sure exactly what you mean by network marketing, mainly because the term applied to a lot of different activities. I’d be careful if they want you to put money upfront. And I’d also research it carefully, including checking with the Better Business Bureau in your area.

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This is an ultimate guide and huge opportunity to build career in different are from home. Great work. thank you

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Great! article very informative and this is awesome suggestions for start online business.Thanks for the guideline. It’s very helpful.

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Please send me the 10 step PDF, I found your article inspiring.

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I absolutely love the Off Hour Daycare it’s a money maker to me

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Excellent article, thanks for the hard work. This must’ve taken quite a bit of research time. I fit in at Number 25 as a Pro Blogger, and can confidently add that it will not be easy. I can however assure you Blogging will be SO worth it, once you get the hang of it.

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I think this is terrific. I know that one of the biggest reasons people fail to make it work with starting a business online is the lack of knowledge of how to get started, or the lack of knowledge of how to market their business online with real proven techniques that drive traffic, and provide new and real leads for new membership or product sales. I have found that starting a business online can be the best option from an overhead standpoint, and definitely is the best bet as far as leveraging your exposure. i came across a tremendous opportunity that provides excellent support and a true one step approach to setting up your own profitable business that can, and will generate amazing profits with the right attention and effort to insure it’s success.

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My core competencies are: * Best career Guide & Councillor for students of food tech. * Lecture delivering in the technical institutes food technology. * Skill to organised training to the industries dealing in ISO & Food safety certification. * Working as a Head – Quality Control in liquor industry. * Having expertise in corrective and preventive action through root cause analysis breakdown studies. * Having sound knowledge to provide the turn key consultancy for setting up the small food processing industries.

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Currently it looks like WordPress is the top blogging platform out there right now.

(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

Yes. WordPress is not only free, but it it’s also the most common blogging platform, and it has the largest number of free applications that can be used in conjunction with it.

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Fantastic blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused .. Any recommendations? Kudos!

Yes, absolutely, go with WordPress. Not only is it free, but it’s also very user-friendly. And there are lots of free apps available to go with it. I’d also get active on the social media to help you get noticed. You can use an application like Hootsuite to help you manage and schedule your social media activities.

I have new content for your small business blog listings that your readers would be interested to read about. I’ve been providing a simple ‘green’ service at commercial properties since 1981. Using only hand tools, I perform a daily litter cleanup service for the exterior property (sidewalks, parking lot, landscape). Almost as easy as going for a walk! I generate a six figure income yearly from this simple, home based, low cost start up business and I can teach you how to do the same. Details online: http://www.cleanlots.com. Affiliate program available.

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Just an FYI that you may want to edit this article. DONA is not the only certifying organization for doulas. There are many other organizations that offer excellent training for new doulas.

' src=

interested in how to get a job as a customer service rep from home? I have 18 years in the workforce as a customer service rep.

' src=

Can you give me some tips of how I can go about to stare a Coustomer Service Rep business from my home and how do i go about getting clients.

' src=

I’m interested in working from home as a Customer Service Rep. Can you tell me how to get started?

' src=

Can I get more info? My back round is in the Building, Home Improvement industry, I am turning 62 soon and looking a local part time representation.

' src=

Really enjoyed your article..I am in the process of setting up a home based business of making and selling accent pieces and furniture. Please could you send me your pdf on this process I would be great full for any help. Regards Clive

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Excellent article!

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Gosh, I’d sure appreciate a copy of the 10-step PDF for starting a home-based business, if it’s not too much trouble for you. Thanks so much. WOW!

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Item #8 should be changed from interior designer to interior decorator because indeed interior designers are required to have a degree and in many states are required to be licensed. Interior designers need to know building and safety codes among other things. Selecting paint colors and toss pillows is a very small part of the job. Many commercial ID’s do very little “decorating”. See IIDA or NCIDQ for more information.

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Just wondering if I could also get a copy of that 10 step list also, Thanks!

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Hi Karlene,

I would really appreciate a copy too, please

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Hello Karlene,

I would also like a copy of your 10 step PDF guide to starting my own business. Thanks.

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Great information! I would like a 10 step PDF copy too please!

' src=

Hi Karlene love this article I would love to receive a copy of the 10 step pdf for starting my own business. I will gladly appreciate it thank you.

' src=

Lot’s of good ideas although clearly can’t be done from the comfort of your own kitchen table.

Just to add for those who are looking for ways to make money from home without leaving home, think about services you can provide to businesses i.e. being a virtual assistant – taking calls, marketing, data entry.

If you want a business you can do from home, you can start up your own virtual assistant business, join a business opportunity, or just become an internet marketer.

Nice article to get the ideas flowing nonetheless.

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HI KARLENE, I would like to get a copy of that 10 step PDF starting a new business if i can Thank you so much

' src=

Hi Karlene, I would love a copy of the 10 step PDF for starting a new business. Thank you so much.

' src=

All the businesses are good to consider for and i found interesting with medical transcription. One of my friend doing this business these days and the fact he used to earn descent income form the specific job.

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Like Karen, I would like for someone to help me with the “how to” part. I have a couple of business ideas, but when you start researching on the internet you are barraged with plenty of sites that lead you no where, and don’t answer specific questions. @ Karlene: How could I get your information?

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Great suggestions! I’ve personally found number 23—blogging to be an excellent income source. The potential is limitless, just as you say.

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Something for everyone you should be able to find at least one idea from the list. Especially interested in the Opportunities That Didn’t Exist 15 Years Ago section!

' src=

Great article! Love getting new ideas to tie in with what we are already working on. Just curious though as to what your opinion is of the direct sales industry and how viable it is in the long run?

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I have a friend who’s started ebay sales and its worked really well for him

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Thanks for sharing your brilliant ideas! This is one great article!

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It is great to have these ideas on what type of home business that you could start. I have seen these types of articles before. What I would like to see with these articles are some information on how to get the education that may be requires. I would also like to see some recommended steps to assist is starting a homebased business. Thank!

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@Karen, I can certainly help you with the recommended steps. I have a 10-step PDF for starting a home-based biz of your own. Feel free to contact me if you’d like a copy.

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hi Karlene,

I saw your response to Karen regarding the 10-step PDF for starting a home-based biz of your own. I would like a copy too if you don’t mind sharing it with me.

Thank you for responding.

' src=

I am looking to make some changes also and would love a copy of the 10-step pdf you are discussing here as well please. I hope you don’t mind.

' src=

Hi Karlene, I would also like a copy of your 10-step PDF for starting a home-based business. Thanks!!

' src=

Hello Karlene, I would love to have a copy of the 10-step PDF for starting my own business. Thank you so much.

' src=

Hi Karlene, I would also like a copy of your 10 step PDF for starting my own business, please. If it’s not too much to ask!

' src=

Plz snd me he 10 step PDF file for startn a hm based biz. Thk u so much.

' src=

I would love to get a copy of your PDF file for starting a home-based business. Thanks.

' src=

Karlene, I would also like a copy of your 10 step PDF for starting my own business, please.

' src=

Can you alsi send me the pdf for the 10 step process of strarting a business.

' src=

Could you also send me a copy of the document.

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101 Business Ideas to Start From Home

3 Min Read | Jan 17, 2022

Christy Wright

This can be the year you’re going to get your business off the ground. This could be the year you start earning extra income on your own terms. It’s  your time to enjoy the responsibility, pride and freedom of running your own business!

Once you’ve considered your strengths, hobbies and passions, as well as what you have to work with and where the money is, then you can dream up ideas! Here is a list of 101 types of side businesses you can start from home!

Products You Can Hand Make and Sell

2. Custom clothing

3. Scented candles

4. Custom T-shirt quilts

5. Dog treats

6. Candy creations

7. Baby blankets

8. Bags and purses

9. Barnwood signs

10. Upcycled thrift store furniture

11. Invitations

12. Painted canvases

13. Christmas ornaments

14. Hair bands, bows and accessories

15. Custom scrapbooks

16. Gift baskets

17. Party rentals

18. Coffee mugs

19. Soaps, lotions and beauty products

20. Door wreaths

21. Cakes, cookies and cupcakes

22. Custom wedding decor

23. Pet products and accessories

24. Halloween costumes

25. Ugly sweaters for Christmas parties

Services You Can Provide

26. Babysitter

28. Caricature artist

29. Plant waterer

30. Dog sitter

31. Professional organizer

32. Baby-proofing consultant

33. Florist

34. Gardener

35. House cleaner

36. Pet photographer

37. Calligrapher

38. Yard pooper scooper

39. Genealogy researcher

40. Holiday display installer

41. Furniture refinisher

42. Seamstress

43. House sitter

44. Horse boarder

45. Aquarium cleaner

46. Pet groomer

47. Résumé writer

48. ACT/SAT tutor

49. Handywoman

50. Personal shopper

51. Landscaper

53. Personal chef

54. Music teacher

55. Graphic designer

56. Website programmer

57. Freelance writer

58. Wedding music performer

59. Independent tour guide

60. Nutritionist

61. Virtual assistant

62. Ghost writer

63. Painter

65. Hair stylist

66. Caterer

67. Wedding photographer

68. Freelance editor

69. Transcriber

70. Personal trainer

71. Sports instructor

72. Interior designer

73. Videographer

74. Voice actor

75. Travel agent

76. Makeup artist

77. Social media manager

78. Business or life coach

79. Massage therapist

80. College planning consultant

81. Grant writer

82. Medical biller

83. Swim instructor

84. Bookkeeper

85. Stylist

86. Lamaze coach

87. Coupon blogger

88. Event planner

89. Mystery shopper

90. Publicist

91. Exercise class instructor

92. Motivational speaker

93. Produce farmer

Outside-the-Box Ideas You May Not Have Thought Of

94. Wedding officiant

95. Home stager for real estate properties

96. Product importer

97. New baby consultant for expectant families

98. YouTube video tutorial teacher

99. Bridesmaid

100. Bed-and-breakfast owner (Airbnb is an easy, low-risk place to start!)

101. Letter responder (on behalf of Santa)

I want to help you find the idea that’s right for you and turn it into a business.

So, are you ready to find your best business idea?

It’s hard to start a business, and it’s hard to keep it up and running while you’re in the trenches. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to be on this journey alone. With the right training and support, you can create a successful business—and you don’t need a degree to make it happen. 

For the complete plan on how to start or grow a business and make money doing what you love, pick up a copy of  Business Boutique .

Did you find this article helpful? Share it!

Christy Wright

About the author

Christy Wright

Christy Wright is a #1 national bestselling author, personal development expert and host of The Christy Wright Show . She’s been featured on Today , Fox News, and in Entrepreneur and Woman’s Day magazines.  Learn More.

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11 Easy Online Business Ideas to Make Money From Home in 2024

smart business ideas from home

In 2024, all you need to launch a successful business is an original idea, a stable internet connection, and potentially a free website builder . It's also possible to very effectively promote yourself entirely through social media, especially when you're just starting out, so don't think you have to be especially tech-savvy to make money online.

In fact, some of the biggest businesses known to man were born in bedrooms, garages, and basements – including Amazon, Apple and Facebook to name just a few. Carving out your niche is less straightforward, though, especially as increasingly low barriers to entry drives up the competition across industries.

Whether you're aiming to be the next tech titan or are just happy with a lucrative side hustle , there are lots of viable ideas to get started with that require minimal start-up costs and equipment. From dropshipping to custom GPT creations, we outline 11 easy online business ideas that can be launched from the convenience of your home and represent proven ways to make money online.

Read on for some entrepreneurial inspiration, and for tips on being your own boss.

The Best Online Business Ideas to Make Money at Home

There's no shortage of ways to make money from home in 2024, as long as you're willing to put in the graft. Here are some creative business ideas made possible by the internet, and online tools like ChatGPT :

  • Affiliate marketing
  • Make an online course
  • Dropshipping
  • Write a blog
  • Sell goods online 
  • Start a Print-on-demand business
  • Sell an online service
  • Create and sell an NFT
  • Create a YouTube channel
  • Make a custom GPT
  • Create an eBook with ChatGPT

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1. Affiliate marketing

  • Pros : Zero start-up costs
  • Cons : Requires an online following
  • Earning potential: $100 to $500 a month (as a beginner)

Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where companies compensate individuals for promoting links to certain goods or services. Affiliate marketers receive a percentage of the sales or tragic generated through their efforts, so the bigger audience you already have, the bigger your earning potential.

Surfshark logo

There are a number of ways to cash in from affiliate marketing, from posting on social media to writing blog posts. One of the best things about affiliate marketing is that it doesn't require any start-up costs, making it one of the most affordable ways to generate passive income.

2. Make an online course

  • Pros : Easy to set up
  • Cons : Need to market it yourself
  • Earning potential: $100 to $1,000 a month (as a beginner)

If you've got specific knowledge or a skill you think would benefit others, why not make and sell an online course? This is especially true if you're clued up on new and emerging technologies, as spiking demand for online AI training courses shows.

Selling a course is a cost-effective and scalable way to make a steady income while sharing content you're passionate about. It's super easy to get started as well with web builder software like Squarespace and Hostinger.

However, there are some drawbacks to monetizing your knowledge. Just like with affiliate marketing, it is easier to make money with an established audience, so if you don't have a large follower base, or aren't prepared to market your course, this may not be the best business idea for you.

3. Dropshipping

  • Pros : Requires no start-up inventory
  • Cons : Its competetive
  • Earning potential: $1,000 to $3,000 in the first year

You've probably seen enough YouTube ads by now to know what drop shipping is. But if not, dropshipping is a low-risk business model that lets you sell products to customers without incurring wholesale running costs. Unlike with brick-and-mortar and traditional ecommerce, you don't have to purchase a product unless you've already made a sale, reducing financial risks associated with surplus stock.

Dropshipping is a great option for entrepreneurial spirits with little funds available to invest in inventory. However, the world of dropshipping is extremely competitive, and profit margins are a lot lower than with traditional retail.

4. Write a blog

  • Pros : Allows for creative freedom
  • Cons : Can take time to build an audience
  • Earning potential: $70 to $100 a month (as a beginner)

If you're a budding wordsmith, or are simply passionate about a certain subject, writing and monetizing a blog could be a good way to earn money on the side. After you've carved out your niche and put pen to paper, you'll need to build a loyal online audience. Once you've amassed a decent amount of followers, you're able to monetize your blog across various channels, including through sponsored posts, product sales, or third-party ads.

The great thing about blogging is you have the freedom to write about anything you care about. It's also a natural way to foster and connect with an online community of like-minded people.

5. Sell goods online 

  • Pros : Can set own profit margins
  • Cons : Requires start-up inventory
  • Earning potential: Up to $10,000 per month

If you're crafty, or have got an eye for second-hand goods, selling items online can be a decent money-maker. Selling products of your choice allows you to set your own profit margins, and market them to your liking. Lots of ecommerce platforms like Etsy , eBay, and Depop let you retail goods for free too, but they do charge a fraction of each sale.

Selling goods online does require start-up investments though, specifically when it comes to purchasing materials and stock. This makes retailing goods unsuitable to individuals looking to get started for free. Alternatively, you could set up your own site using one of the best ecommerce website builders , which gives you full control of your startup's finances.

6. Start a print-on-demand business

  • Pros : Minimal start-up costs
  • Cons : Low margins
  • Earning potential: Around $1,500 per month (as a beginner)

Print-on-demand (PoD) is an order fulfillment method where business owners print designs on products like clothing, accessories, and decor using third-party suppliers. Like dropshipping, you don't need to purchase the stock until the order is received, eliminating the need for costly inventory management. It's important to research market trends before launching a PoD business, however, as some niches – like sustainable fashion and athleisure – are more lucrative than others.

Man printing a T-shirt from home

7. Sell an online service

  • Pros : Can utilize existing talents
  • Cons : Hard to build a client base
  • Earning potential: Anywhere from $15 to $100 an hour (as a beginner)

You don't need to sell something tangible to run a successful business. Selling a service like consulting, life coaching or personal training is a great way to profit from existing skills and experience.

This business idea might be appealing to those who already work for a service provider for their 9-5, but are looking to subsidize their income by going freelance in their spare time. However, if you're experienced enough, are willing to work hard to build a roster of clients, and receive a decent amount of positive testimonials, there's ample potential to turn this business into a full-time gig.

Don't have a big marketing budget? Leveraging free-cost marketing channels and networking in your industry are effective ways to spread the word cheaply, according to author and certified speaking coach Kevin Williams.

8. Create and sell NFTs

  • Pros : Allows you to profit from pre-existing content
  • Cons : Requires technical knowledge
  • Earning potential: Anywhere from $200 to $1 million

Another creative way to make money online in 2024 is by making, and selling an original non-fungible token (NFT). While the hype around NFTs has dyed down a little since the technology broke into the mainstream in 2021, they can still be a decent money-maker for those with some spare time and the right technical know-how.

Anyone can make an NFT, but to avoid copyright infringement it's best to make one from an original asset. However, even if this isn't possible, you can still generate a decent income from trading NFTs based on trends and popularity.

9. Create a YouTube channel

  • Pros : Good way to monetize your passion
  • Cons : Time and energy-intensive
  • Earning potential: $18 per 1,000 views

If you've always wanted to try your hand at vlogging or video editing, monetizing a YouTube channel is a good way to earn massive income and explore your passions at the same time. While it takes work to build a following, once you reach 1,000 subscribers you can launch YouTube ads on your channel, and make up to $0.5 to $2.5 per 1000 views with AdSence.

Women cooking and filming herself

10. Make a custom GPT

  • Pros : Quick and easy to
  • Cons : Requires a paid ChatGPT plan
  • Earning potential: Up to $1000 a month

With the GPT store opening earlier this year, ChatGPT Premium and Enterprise users are now able to profit from their own custom GPTs. custom GPTs are customizable versions of ChatGPT that are tailored to a specific niche. From Christmas Card Maker's to Simionizers, the limit really is your image, but as a general rule of thumb, the most successful GPTs will serve a unique use case and will be trained on richer data than similar competitors.

If you're subscribed to ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise, creating a custom GPT couldn't be easier too. All you need to do is name your GPT, add instructions and examples to the builder's drop-down menu, test it, and you're ready to go live.

For more detailed instructions, learn how to make a GPT that sells in 10 simple steps here .

11. Create an eBook with ChatGPT

  • Pros : No start-up costs
  • Cons : Very competitive field
  • Earning potential: Up to $2500 a week

You don't need to be a trained author to write an eBook that sells; all you need is ChatGPT and some well-crafted prompts.

AI chatbots are content-creation machines, so it's unsurprising so many people have begun using them to earn passively in 2024. The creation process is relatively straightforward too; all you need to do is come up with a niche or original idea – this could range from a mystery crime novel to a non-fiction book about botany – come up with a basic book structure (you can use ChatGPT for this too) and then write the book paragraph by paragraphs by feeding ChatGPT descriptive promotes.

After the book is complete, you can sell it directly through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and earn up to 70% from each book sale.

What Do I Need to Start an Online Business?

The first port-of-call for budding entrepreneurs is creating a developed, yet realistic business plan . A business plan helps crystalize your thoughts into clear, actionable steps. Not only is the document critical when you're taking your tentative first steps, but it's also a useful tool for reaching important milestones and showing your concept off to investors and lenders.

Another prerequisite for a successful online business is a website . Whether you're selling goods online or just looking to boost your reach, building a website will improve your business's credibility and establish your status as an online competitor. Setting up a site doesn't need to be an arduous task, either. There are tons of website builders that can help you build a professional site quickly and easily, each with their own specialisms and strengths.

Wix performed best in our independent web builder research, thanks to its generous free plan, excellent UX, and dynamic toolkit, while Squarespace edges out the competitor when it comes to design. See how our favorites weigh up side by side in our comparison table below.

Can I Start an Online Business with No Money?

Sure, heaps of capital make it easier to launch a business from the ground up. But this doesn't mean there are no viable ways to start businesses for free.

If you've got a solid idea that requires financial backing, applying for small business loans and grants are great ways to sew seeds that could eventually flourish into a successful, lucrative business. Whether you need to cover operational expenses, invest in inventory, or launch a marketing campaign to get your business seen, financing can help launch a business forward while affording business owners peace of mind.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) website is home to a variety of lending options including 7 (a) loans – its primary form of small business financial assistance, 504 loans, and microloans. The agency also provides a range of targeted small-business grants, targeted at research and learning institutions and community organizations.

You don't need to access financing to get ahead, though. There are loads of business ideas to pursue that don't require funding, including course-building, dropshipping, and selling goods through free sites like Etsy and Amazon. You don't need to fork out on a pricey website builder to establish your online presence either.

Major names like Wix , GoDaddy , and Squarespace offer solid free plans. However, most free plans lack basic features like custom URLs and ecommerce functionality, so if these are must-haves for you, you'd be better off investing in a paid builder instead. Check out our guide to the best easy website builders to learn more about the most beginner-friendly options.

Benefits of Starting an Online Business

If you have the time and work ethic required to carry out the undertaking, starting your own business can pay dividends in a number of ways. Firstly, launching a business online is heads-and-shoulders cheaper than opening and maintaining a brick-and-mortar store. It's also easier to reach a wider pool of potential consumers online than it would be in person, helping you to tap into new markets and expand your base significantly.

Starting an online business allows you to be your own boss too, affording you greater autonomy and control over how and when you work. This is especially valuable for those who are looking to carve out healthier professional boundaries, particularly when it comes to finding a work-life balance. The last perk is an obvious one: hustling from your home office can be extremely lucrative. At a time when the majority of Americans (78%) claim to have financial concerns, launching your own business could spell the difference between surviving and thriving in 2024.

What Makes a Successful Online Business?

If you're new to entrepreneurship, there are a number of factors to be aware of before taking the plunge. Here are a few tips on launching a successful online business, taken from the mouths of experts themselves.

First, before you unveil your product or service to the world you need to make sure it actually addresses a need . You can come up with this need by referring to your own experiences, and that of your friends and family, or researching market opportunities online.

Research every spare hour you have. There is no shortcut to knowledge, you must just stay focused on the end goal and absorb as much as possible. – Ben Hilton, Managing Director of Switch Jam

You need to make sure you do your homework too. Whether it be researching competitors, market trends within your industry, or the legal aspects of launching a product or service, Google will be your best friend in the preliminary stages of running a business.

“Focus on necessities, skimp on luxuries. Use freelance platforms to find affordable services for your needs. Utilize free-to-use platforms like social networks for initial marketing.” – Virginia Miller, spokesperson for Simple Fulfillment

To avoid costly overheads, do as much of the in-house work as possible. From writing your own content to producing your own logo, only outsource the tasks you absolutely have to. Also, skimp on luxuries. Take advantage of free resources like complimentary web-builders and social media, and invest surplus money back into your venture.

We're sorry this article didn't help you today – we welcome feedback, so if there's any way you feel we could improve our content, please email us at [email protected]

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TimeTap

25 Small Business Ideas to Start From Home

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more people invested in a new business in the third quarter of 2020 than any other time. You, like many others, might be ready to start your own venture. Or, maybe you would like an affordable side gig while keeping your 9-5 job.

While jumping on new home business trends can be risky, it can also be significantly rewarding if you do your due diligence and step in carefully. The truth is, if you aren’t about that 9-to-5 life, home-based businesses are an excellent alternative.

To help you find the most appropriate one, here is a roundup of some profitable and most manageable home-based business ideas, from one-off side jobs to gigs that will grow your business. It can be overwhelming to determine the most viable job options to pursue, but these ideas will help you get started.

1. Printing on-demand

If you are on the lookout for a successful business idea, print-on-demand services are easy to set up and always needed. It involves selling your customized designs on different items such as mugs, t-shirts, and phone cases without printing the artwork yourself.

As an alternative, you can partner with vendors who print your unique design on their goods. They even bundle and transport the product to your clients. You only have to pay when you have successfully sold the products. In terms of marketing,  collaborating with social media influencers  to endorse your items is a practical way to reach the target audience for your business.

2. Cosmetology

Having the skills to cut hair, give manicures, and do makeup enables you to offer home services, which is a great way to start your salon. Having a home-based salon can be rewarding since you will not have to pay rent for a salon space. But be sure to abide by all of your state's requirements for starting salon care services from your home, as the rules can be stringent.

Schedule spa and beauty appointments online. Learn More

3. App development

If you are technically inclined, one of the best business ideas is app development. Most businesses these days require bespoke apps, and you can make these for next to no cost, thanks to affordable developers and tools.

According to one recent survey, 57% of developers have less than five years of experience, so don’t be afraid to take the leap even if you are fairly new to the game. That’s how you get experience, and you can lower your fees initially and then raise them commensurate with experience. Today, you can leverage software apps to create mockups and wireframes before deciding to publish the application.

4. Electronics repair

Another good option for all those techies out there, repairing electronics like laptops, phones, or tablets can provide you with a great deal of business. Mobile device users regularly search for cost-effective ways to get their smashed screens fixed, unlock locked cell phones, and other repairs that can be expensive if fixed by the manufacturer.

5. Content writing

Nearly every organization needs marketing experts to help build an online presence through blogs, product descriptions, emails, etc. A copywriting or content writing company can be one of the most lucrative business ideas you can opt for as long as you have the talent for the written word.

You can find your first few customers at Problogger Jobs, BloggingPro, and Remote.co. There are various ways to make an excellent first impression on customers, like offering custom graphics or keyword optimization as part of a broader spectrum of services.

6. Website flipping

Website flipping refers to buying an already live/running website, refining its content and design, and then marketing it for a profit. There are several platforms that allow you to buy and sell sites to make an income. For instance, Shopify's marketplace Exchange enables you to buy ecommerce sites that you can augment via SEO, content marketing, and other strategies and then resell when the site starts to generate more revenue.

7. Translation services

Multilingual professionals are always sought-after, so if you are fluent in speaking or writing a few languages, think about setting up a small venture to monetize those skills. You can look for freelance clients on sites like Flexjobs and  Upwork  and gradually build your portfolio.

As you work successfully with more companies, you can also recruit more translators who have expertise in other languages to reduce the burden. It is also good to promote your business on social media sites, helping you reach a broader audience base.

Reserve office hours, schedule online classes and more. Learn More

8. Home-based catering

If you see cooking as a creative opportunity, starting a home-based catering service is a good option that can help you generate a decent income. The venture's initial investment is contingent on the scale you want your setup to be. For instance, you can start the business for less if you begin with smaller events to manage independently.

Many home-based caterers create a website first and experiment with the local food markets or join platforms that let cooking experts squeeze some earnings from their culinary skills.

9. Email marketing

Email marketing involves knowing how to write compelling subject lines that entice the recipients to open and read through the email. You'll find various companies requiring help with their email strategies. When you demonstrate that skill of appealing to the readers, clients will want to hire you for your email marketing services to help them build and grow their email contact lists.

The only startup costs for this business are investing in the best email marketing tools that will help you automate your communications while ensuring precision and desired outcomes.

10. Career coaching

With a saturated job landscape and rising unemployment, there is no shortage of individuals who want to know their professional purpose so they can pursue careers that speak to them. Consider a career in coaching to help others figure out the best career option for them, traits of a good candidate, how to ace an interview, and more.

You can search for clients on platforms like Facebook, Coach.me, etc. The best part about this venture is that you can earn income by only conducting a few hours of sessions per month.

11. Virtual dance workshops

The advantages of a virtual dance workshop are pretty apparent. You don't need to rent a studio space, and it's suitable to record, share, and publish the choreography at your own discretion. Additionally, there's no restriction on the number of people you can register with within your class/session.

When starting a virtual dance studio, it is vital to invest in video conferencing platforms like Zoom. You'll also require high-speed internet and connectivity to ensure no buffering or lags during the live stream. Also, make sure to organize enough classes every month to keep your students engaged and fit.

12. Video production

Studies show that 85% of U.S. internet users watch videos monthly. And with more videos being watched every day, there's undoubtedly a need for individuals who can record, edit, cut, and publish them. You can generate video content for branded YouTube channels, wedding videography, and more.

The initial investments in this business include a lighting set, a camera or cameras, wireless microphones, and editing apps like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. While there is no limitation to the types of projects you can do, focusing on a niche will make it easier for you to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

13. Software education

If you know how to operate and debug issuers with computer software, you can set up your own software education platform and register students every month . Interested candidates might include business leaders and entrepreneurs who want to build on their IT-related skills or other people looking to master abilities for software like PowerPoint and Excel.

As your business scales and more people enroll for your programs, you can consider hiring freelance software professionals to train students based on their respective areas of expertise. Even though you can rent a space for tutorial lectures if you want to, think about hosting online classes to keep costs low and expand your services to global markets.

14. Graphic design

Companies are always searching for competent graphic designers to create engaging advertisements, logos, websites, posters, and more. While you can be a completely self-taught graphic designer, most have a degree or a certification.

Apart from the design software of your choice, this has minimal overhead costs, and you can do it with a dedicated computer irrespective of where you are. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers typically have an average salary of $52,110 , though many make more on freelance platforms.

15. Bookkeeping

Starting a bookkeeping business is a good idea for accountants who want to work from home. However, it isn't necessary to be a Certified Public Accountant to become a self-employed bookkeeper. You'll need the specialized knowledge from bookkeeping courses you can enroll in at your local community college.

This type of freelance work is particularly helpful for small businesses that can't afford in-house accounting staff, which makes it plausible for you to work full-time even if it’s through various smaller clients.

Schedule financial advising appointments. Learn More

16. Digital event planning

As an event planner, you can organize, plan, and report on various digital events like online summits and webinars for different companies. You can earn income by charging a fee on an hourly basis for your service, charge by project, or sell sponsorships. You can leverage an online scheduling tool to better keep yourself organized so you never miss an event.

17. Organization

If you like to reorganize rooms and closets for fun, you can service disorganized and harried businesses and individuals. To start this, consider creating a Facebook page/group or a simple website to promote your services. Also, you can post advertisements on local social media platform pages or channels like Craigslist.

18. Grant writing

Hospitals, universities, non-profits, and other community groups all require grant money to fund their operations. However, grants are notoriously complicated to draft for the initial time. So, if you have this expertise, you can operate a profitable freelance grant-writing business. The typical fee structure for grant writers varies by arrangement and industry.

19. Herb farming

For some people, gardening can be both a calming and lucrative job. With both the demand for organic and locally grown foods and the increased attention to alternative therapies, a herb farming business can find many customers, specifically if you are residing in an urban area.

While herb farmers do require particular space for growing, herbs are comparatively small, and you can grow them in almost any part of your home to allow for an all-encompassing herb garden.

20. Tutoring

An educational background is helpful but not compulsory for tutors. All you need is competent skills in a specific area(s) of study and the ability to help others understand it. With a sound knowledge in a particular topic such as math, programming, or a foreign language, you can help students of all ages perform better in their classes and make some good income simultaneously.

You can market your services in your neighborhood and even reach out to different schools in the vicinity, but there are also online platforms to offer this service.

21. Music lessons

Teaching guitar, piano, violin, or taking singing lessons from your home is a well-established method to earn additional income. While people can easily take music lessons in person, some websites allow you to market your services or teach music online as well. Some of the best platforms include Take Lessons and Live Music Tutor.

22. Daycare

This is a specifically good business idea for stay-at-home individuals who want to make some money. Keep in mind that licensing for home daycare differs from state to state, so make sure that you follow and comply with all the local regulations. Also, as with any job that deals with children, be sure to insure yourself so as to avoid issues in the case of an emergency.

23. Making homemade goods

If you like to spend time in your workshop, selling your wares can be an excellent avenue for generating some extra income. A platform like Etsy is a good place to sell without requiring a physical outlet. All you have to do is sign up for an account, take photos of your creations, and set a price. Then, you only have to leave your house when you need to ship your products to the customers.

24. Mystery shopping

For many individuals, the idea of being paid to do shopping is a perfect scenario. There are various mystery shopping scams to be careful of , so make sure you never accept a gig that needs an upfront fee. It is a good sign that it's not legit. But if navigated properly, mystery shopping can still pay well.

25. Landscape design

If you are excited about landscaping your yard, the home-based business for landscape design might be the perfect option for you. You can practice for yourself and friends and learn to master it by finding a part-time hustle with a good landscaping company. Then, you can start to build your customer base from there.

Wrapping up

So there you have it, twenty-five small business ideas to start from home that can help you earn a stable income stream. To give yourself optimal chances of success, concentrate on one venture at a time until you find the one that aligns with your abilities. Tons of people have implemented these ideas and have been successful, so you can confidently put your effort and time into something proven and viable.

Get started testing out TimeTap features today.

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36 Online Business Ideas You Can Start in 2024

It seems that there’s no shortage of good online business ideas. The truth is, the internet has made it easy to create a business. With just a website, you can reach anyone in any location in the world. Target the right people with the right offering, and you would be making your own money in no time. Other benefits of running an online business include cost savings, increased flexibility, and less paper waste.

So if you’re quietly contemplating the idea of starting something of your own , here’s a list of the best small online business ideas that are within the reach of almost anyone who’s willing to take the plunge. From social media manager, to public speaking coach, to interior design consultant, the options are endless.

smart business ideas from home

Start selling online now with Shopify

smart business ideas from home

36 Best Online Business Ideas for 2024

Here is the list of the top online business ideas to get you started instantly. The best part is that all of these ideas have money-making potential, meaning you don’t need to validate them before you start. If you are looking for the best online business to start, this is the only list you will need.

Most Popular Online Business Ideas

→ Click Here to Launch Your Online Business with Shopify

1. open a t-shirt online shop.

Platforms like Printful and Shopify have made it insanely simple to start an online t-shirt business for anyone with a speck of imagination and an eye for design. But it doesn’t need to be an online t-shirt shop; you can set up an ecommerce shop selling anything. The key here is to learn about print on demand, which forms the base for such businesses.

open t-shirt business

2. Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is the easiest option to start an ecommerce business without having to buy any products in advance. Use dropshipping apps to find thousands of products from suppliers to sell online. Then sell to customers across the world while building and promoting your own brand, all without needing to invest in warehousing or manufacturing costs. You don’t need to pay for inventory until it’s sold to an actual customer. From online boutique to jewelry store to women’s clothing store to one-product store, dropshipping works for most online store ideas.Check out our guide to starting a dropshipping business to learn more about this great opportunity.

3. Kickstarter/Indiegogo Advisor

Grabbing the attention of curious browsers on the most popular crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo is a tough job. If you’re inventive and know how to tap into human emotion, then this is a niche worth exploring. Many aspiring entrepreneurs look for personalized advice to carry their campaigns to the finish line, so try offering action-oriented eBooks or online courses targeted at this particular audience.

4. SEO Expert

One of the online world’s hottest professions at the moment, this business is a gold mine for the tech-savvy entrepreneurs. While everyone’s slightly obsessed with getting their sites SEO optimized, not many people can actually wrap their heads around this topic. If you decide to go into this field, you can think about offering link building, content creation, ecommerce SEO optimization , and similar one-off packages.

5. Selling Online Courses

Derek Halpern has built a really strong personal brand. He’s the founder of a software and business training company called Social Triggers and makes a LOT of money teaching people how to sell what they know best. And what he knows best is how to sell. If you’ve got some serious expertise, start making money out of it by selling online courses or simply teaching online.

online business opportunities

6. Bug Testing

Bug testing is a service that no software company can ignore. If you can build a platform to crowdsource expert skills and resources to tackle this area, then you have solid chances of turning a profit. One of the most unique online business ideas, providing bug testing resources can be a lucrative way to boost your income. To find relevant jobs, go through the listings on ZipRecruiter and Indeed .

7. Video Producer

YouTube is the second largest site in the world , so there’s no surprise that video is becoming one of the main communication mediums for businesses of all types and sizes. If you have video filming or editing knowledge, it won’t take you long to build your clientele. Everything from video production workshops and video editing services to soundtrack libraries and DIY tutorials can appeal to the business world. Producing a video might be one of the most attractive online business ideas with lots of creativity and challenges.

8. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are always in demand from small businesses to large multinationals. Starting a graphic design business can allow you to tap into this great opportunity. Showcasing your experience with your past portfolio can help you gain customers without aggressive outreach.

9. Website Developer

In the same vein as graphic design, website development is in constant demand as businesses are always trying to upgrade and improve their websites to get more sales. This means that you can work on new and existing websites concurrently, and get to try new things all the time. If being constantly challenged is what you are looking for, website development could be the best online business for you.

Website Design - Shopify Experts

10. App Development

Apps are an amazing lucrative market, so it is not surprising that more and more companies are investing in them. This means that there is a growing need for app developers to create their applications. Offering app development  is a great opportunity as you can work on vastly different applications on a daily basis.

11. Theme Designer

Just like a website developer, a theme designer is working with websites but in a different way. Choosing theme designer as your side hustle idea means building new website themes for business to use for their website. This could mean researching popular themes, identifying their shortcomings, and creating a theme that solves these pain points while remaining true to the popularity of the previous theme. If you are an expert in a certain industry, creating themes for this industry could see you reap much success.

12. Translator

If you are gifted with more than one language but have no interest in teaching others, try translating. Many companies need their website and collateral translated when they move into a different market. You can help them achieve it, while also keeping active in more than one language. Keep in mind the most common way of billing is cost per word, so price wisely to make smart money from this great online business idea.

13. Social Media Manager

Social media is an integral part of any business but it’s time-consuming and ever-changing – so really quite difficult to keep up with and, more importantly, capitalize on. Many business owners are willing to outsource this time-intensive task, so it’s a great opportunity for social media fanatics. Bundle together a few interesting offers, such as “Startup social media kit” or “Small Business Social Media Starter Kit” that encompass everything from social media graphics to analytics reports and the seamless experience will bring you more clients than you expect.

14. Remote Customer Service Agent

If you enjoy helping people but don’t want to be stuck in a call center or office all day, become a remote customer service agent and help people from the comfort of your own home. Choose between helping people via chat, email, phone, video, or other ways and save the day for people every day. This may not make you your first million, but it feels great to help people.

15. Virtual Assistant

This is one of the best online business ideas to pursue from home . As a virtual assistant, you would be answering emails, writing content, and doing other tasks on behalf of businesses   The role can mean anything from a data entry person to a researcher, so, be open to trying new things and uncover new skills while getting paid.

16.  Remote Sales Team

As more and more companies take on the lean, mean approach to business, outsourcing cold calling and telesales functions becomes a sort of standard in the startup and small business environment. Whether you want to sell highly-targeted sales pitches or customer data, such as phone numbers and email addresses, the potential is vast.

17. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is where a person promotes a product that another merchant sells. Using advertising, social media, blogging, and more, an affiliate marketer can attract customers to their landing page. When customers click a link to buy the product they will then be brought to the merchant’s store to buy the product. As an internet business idea, this is great for anyone no matter their previous experience. Check out our guide, Affiliate Marketing: Everything You Need to Know , to learn more about this business model. 

18. Lead Generation Service Provider

Most businesses are chasing customers and looking for ways to increase conversion rates . This means investing in activities like lead generation that could be time-consuming. Because of this, many companies outsource the task to a lead generation service provider. If you are good on the phone and enjoy researching and doing outreach to strangers, then this is your calling!

19. Become an Influencer

An influencer is someone with a large follower base on social media who is seen as an expert in a particular area, like makeup or fitness. These people keep busy by posting regularly about their lives and promote products which they feel are good to possess. What is great about this internet business idea is that you can get paid to promote a business to your following, similar to affiliate marketing. Influencer marketing is a huge online business trend right now that you can capitalize on. Try your hand at Vlogging and starting a Podcast , which are under-utilized channels of communication for influencers right now.

20. Handmade Goods Shop

It can take you less than a day to build a storefront to showcase your work and connect with customers on platforms like Amazon and Etsy . If you’re into crafts and DIY, it’s definitely a viable business option to consider. You can make the goods yourself or source them from suppliers in Hong Kong and China.  If you’re in a country that has ePacket shipping , sourcing products is likely to be a better and more cost-effective option.

21. Become a Private Chef

If cooking is one of your personal passions, there are dozens of opportunities to turn it into a decent business venture . You can start by setting up a catering website, experimenting with pop-up food stalls and local food markets, or joining platforms that encourage cooking enthusiasts to squeeze some money out of their passion. And if you’re not camera-shy, you can teach people how to cook special meals by selling online classes.

22. Nutritionist

The trend of healthy eating is here to say. Yet with so much contradictory advice online about what is good for us and what is not, more and more people turn to professional nutritionists for specialist tips and guidance. You can easily find free online courses to learn the fundamentals of this profession and start offering personalized nutrition plans online.

23. Get Baking!

From freshly baked butter croissants to colorful macaroons and pillow-soft morning bagels – the world of the great bake-off is a rich and ever-growing place. The beautiful thing about the online world is that a great passion can be turned into a great business almost overnight. You can start an online bakery or move your existing bakeshop online. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to sell baked goods online .

smart business ideas from home

24. Natural & Organic Beauty Shop

Online shoppers are getting more and more conscientious about their choices, and especially so when it comes to beauty products. Running a beauty shop that’s built on strong ethos and values that resonate with nature and animal lovers is one of the hottest online business ideas right now. Tropic Skin Care seems to be doing a great job connecting with these shoppers.

25. Women’s Sportswear

With LuluLemon spearheading the way, online sportswear shops for women are quickly climbing to the top of the most popular idea amongst ecommerce entrepreneurs. Since yoga pants are clearly here to stay, it’s safe to say that the athleisure trend is one of the best and, perhaps, the least explored niches in ecommerce right now.

26. 3D-Printed Products

One of the biggest technological breakthroughs of this age, 3D printing is dictating a new strategy in the ecommerce world. Some of the best selling 3D-printed products include jewelry, home accessories, bicycle parts, tech accessories and more. For some beautiful examples check out 3DigitalCooks , and DanitPeleg .

27. Ethical Fashion Brand

One thing is clear – clothes and accessories will always be one of the super-profitable online business ideas for an ecommerce site. However, with so many boutiques and fashion online stores in existence, rising above the noise is extremely difficult. Yet, one promising idea that savvy entrepreneurs have probably already noticed is the booming trend of “ethical fashion”. Brands, such as Pachacuti , People Tree , Sea Salt, and Matt & Nat have successfully crafted their brands around the concept of organic, ethical production of fashion items and are riding the trend to the top of the strongest brands list.

28. Mystery Objects Shop

If you have an eye for quirky stuff, maybe running a mystery object shop could help you combine the desire for unusual business ideas with a steady source of income.

Muddy Creatures are nailing the concept of a surprise purchase that taps into the explorer instinct many of us possess. There’s no exact science or skill fueling this business idea – let your imagination go wild…

Easy-to-Start Online Business Ideas for 2020

29. Online Researcher

Although it sounds like a too-good-to-be-true idea, some people are successfully earning a living off their skill to find information online. From data research for infographics to market research for budding startups, talented researchers know that you can put a price tag on knowledge.

30. Proofreader

If you love reading, becoming a proofreader could be your calling. Have other people send you their manuscripts for books, research papers, or whatever else you are interested in reading about, and give them honest feedback before they publish their works of art. This job requires attention to detail and expertise in the area to ensure that everything is ready to print.

31. CV Writing

Banging out a winning CV is a mission impossible for many. If you’re good with words and know how to highlight people’s best qualities, CV writing could be a pretty sweet place to start a business. Additionally, you can sell slick CV templates that will help job hunters to get noticed faster and yield better results.

32. Speechwriting

Giving speeches is a terrifying experience. Giving bad speeches… Well, no one wants to be in that situation. Wordsmiths have a hugely valuable skill to win people over using nothing else but the power of well-strung sentences. If you can write, cash in on this skill by crafting speeches that make birthdays, weddings, award ceremonies, or political debates a more memorable experience.

33. Self-Published Author

If you have the next Harry Potter manuscript sitting in your drawer and the publishing industry hasn’t been kind to you, try self-publishing. Using tools like Amazon’s direct publishing or working with dedicated consultants like I_Am . You not only get the satisfaction of pushing your work out there, but also an opportunity to earn residual income .Don’t think you can write a good novel? Then stick to what you know – self-help is a money-making genre!

34. Ghostwriter

If writing is your thing but you are lacking a topic to write about, become a ghostwriter for someone else. If normally requires you to write about someone or something in a lot of detail. It can take time and much research to finish this type of project so be sure to have a few months free to give to it.

35. Content Curation

The German Economist Schumpeter once said that there are “no original ideas”, only new combinations of old ones. Curation of curiosity-fueling content is an intriguing and little-known business model. One of the best success stories out there is Brainpickings – a platform that describes itself as “an inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more”. The subscription-based model and successful utilization of affiliate links have turned the blog into a self-sustaining business.

popular online business ideas

36. Foreign Language Teacher

Everyone knows that the quickest way to learn a new language is to mingle with native speakers. If you were lucky enough to be born in an English, French, Spanish (insert any of the world’s main languages) speaking country, then missing out on the opportunity to cash in on the skills you take for granted is exactly that – missing out! Use online communication tools, such as Skype or Google Hangouts, to connect with learners and leverage your privileges. Time is money, so package your hours into teaching sessions and you’re good to go.

How to Start an Online Business

Starting an online business, no matter how small you aim to have it can take time and money. It can also involve legal research and some accounting knowledge so you may find there is some upskilling involved in many different areas. Have no fear though because once you get the wheels moving on your adventure, starting an online venture will be fun and motivating. As a great source of income , side hustle opportunities are abundant as you don’t need to be located next to a customer in order to provide the goods or services to them.

The most important first step in how to start an online business is to:

1. Decide Your Business

This is the most important step as without it you don’t have a business. Check out our above list of the most popular online business ideas and choose which one suits you best.

2. Research Your Industry

Get to know what your industry is like. Maybe there is a pricing structure most of your competitor follow that will be good for you. Or maybe once you discover your competitors you will decide that your industry is over-saturated and you need to change your business idea slightly to compete.

3. Create Your Brand

With every good business comes a good brand and if you figure this out at the start you can become a more successful online business in the beginning. This includes having an amazing website, and social media (if your customers are there), killer logo creation , engaging in some PR, and some more outreach and marketing activities.

external branding

4. Begin Getting Customers

The final step to getting started is actually getting your first customer. Having great customers behind you means success for your business. To find these customers you should discover how to get in front of your audience, sending out the right message to entice customers, and devising a pricing structure that works for the majority of customers to effectively give customers what they need.

Online Business Ideas FAQs

  • Where to search online for the best small business ideas?

You can search for the best small business ideas on entrepreneurial blogs like Oberlo, Shopify, or 99designs.com. Alternatively, you can use Google to provide insight by searching around topics that you are interested in.

  • What to sell as your online business idea?

You can sell almost anything as your online business idea. If you want to sell clothing, you could consider dropshipping or print-on-demand. If you are an expert in a particular field you could sell your knowledge through consulting or courses. The sky's the limit when it comes to online business ideas.

Online business ideas are endless and all-inclusive. Most office-based jobs can now be done online through freelancing or remote working. The beauty of technology means that profitable online businesses will keep growing and growing, making the world a truly global marketplace. If you are considering moving away from the traditional career path and want to start your own business, read through our list of business ideas a few times and contemplate the many ways you can start a successful online business today.

Summary: Best Online Business Ideas for 2024

  • Start an online t-shirt business
  • Launch a dropshipping website
  • Offer advice on Indiegogo/Kickstarter
  • Start an SEO business
  • Sell online courses
  • Offer software bug testing resources  
  • Launch a video production company
  • Offer graphic design services
  • Sell web development services
  • Create apps for companies
  • Build website themes
  • Provide translation services
  • Manage social media for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
  • Offer remote customer support services
  • Provide virtual assistant services 
  • Become a remote sales agent
  • Launch an affiliate marketing business
  • Provide lead generation services
  • Do influencer marketing
  • Build a handmade goods store
  • Become a private chef
  • Offer nutrition consultancy 
  • Sell baked goods online
  • Build a natural & organic beauty store
  • Sell women’s sportswear online
  • Offer 3D-printed products
  • Create an ethical fashion brand
  • Start a mystery objects shop
  • Work as an online researcher
  • Become a proofreader
  • Offer CV writing services
  • Become a speechwriter
  • Self-publish books and e-books
  • Ghostwrite content 
  • Curate interesting content
  • Teach foreign languages

Which of these online business ideas are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to Learn More?

  • Free Business Name Generator
  • Wondering How to Grow Your Business? 4 Ways Dropshipping Can Help
  • Business Ideas That Will Make You Money
  • What Should You Sell Online

Is there anything else you’d like to know more about and wish was included in this article? Let us know in the comments below!   

smart business ideas from home

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Starting a Smart Home Business: Tips and Ideas

Are you looking for a new business opportunity? Have you considered starting a smart home business? The smart home industry is booming, and experts predict huge growth in the coming years. In fact, the global smart home market is expected to reach a value of $151.4 billion by 2024.

In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and ideas for starting a smart home business. Whether you're interested in offering home automation services, developing smart home products, or creating innovative apps, this guide will help you get started.

1. Understand the Market

Before starting any business, it's essential to understand the market. Take some time to research the smart home industry, including current trends, consumer preferences, and market segments. Identify any gaps or opportunities in the market that your business could fill.

2. Choose Your Niche

There are many different types of smart home products and services, so it's essential to choose a niche to focus on. Some possible niches include:

  • Smart lighting
  • Home security
  • Energy management
  • Smart appliances
  • Entertainment systems
  • Home automation installation and maintenance

3. Develop Your Products or Services

Once you've chosen your niche, it's time to develop your products or services. If you're creating hardware products, you'll need to work with manufacturers and designers to develop prototypes and finalize designs. If you're offering services, you'll need to build a team of experts who can install and maintain smart home systems.

4. Build Your Online Presence

A strong online presence is essential for any business, especially in the smart home industry. Create a professional website that showcases your products and services and provides helpful information to potential customers. Use social media to promote your brand and engage with your audience.

5. Network and Build Relationships

Networking is critical for success in the smart home industry. Attend trade shows and conferences to meet other industry professionals and build relationships with suppliers and potential customers. Join online communities and forums to stay up-to-date with the latest industry news and trends.

6. Be Innovative

To stand out in the crowded smart home market, you need to be innovative. Explore new technologies and ideas to develop products or services that solve real-life problems and meet the needs of your target customers. Embrace new trends and stay ahead of the competition.

Starting a smart home business can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it's essential to do your research and plan carefully. By following these tips and exploring innovative ideas, you can build a successful smart home business that serves the needs of consumers in this growing industry.

Frequently asked questions

10+ Best & Profitable Smart Home Business Ideas [2023]

Nick

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 07, 2024

Image of smart home business ideas

Our List of 10+ Best Smart Home Business Ideas:

Home daycare, elderly companion service, virtual assistant, personal chef service, house cleaning business, home staging, catering service, handyman services, grocery delivery service.

Hey there, future entrepreneurs! Ever dreamt of running your own profitable business right from the comfort of your home? Well, guess what? The future is here and it's brighter than ever. The year 2023 is all about smart home business ideas that are not only profitable but also incredibly enjoyable to run. So, whether you're a stay-at-home parent, a recent graduate, or simply someone looking to break free from the 9-5 grind, this article is your golden ticket to financial freedom and entrepreneurial success.

Imagine this: Waking up each day, brewing your favorite cup of coffee, and walking a few steps to your home office. No traffic, no rush, just you and your thriving business. Sounds like a dream, right? But it's a dream that's absolutely achievable with the right idea and a pinch of determination.

So buckle up, folks! We're about to dive into the world of smart home business ideas, where innovation meets profitability. We're talking about businesses that don't just earn you money, but also give you the satisfaction of being your own boss. Ready to take the plunge? Let's get started!

A Home daycare is a business that offers childcare services in a private home environment. Home daycares provide an alternative to traditional daycare centers and preschools and offer parents more personalized attention for their children. This makes it a good business opportunity for people who enjoy working with children and are passionate about providing quality care.

  • Flexible hours
  • Lower overhead costs
  • Ability to customize services to suit the needs of parents
  • Opportunity to make the environment more home-like and comfortable for children
  • Opportunity to forge long-term relationships with families

image of a Home Daycare

A Elderly companion service provides companionship and assistance for elderly people who may struggle to look after themselves. It can include helping with housework, doing errands, grocery shopping, providing transportation and providing emotional support. This is a great business idea as it is a growing market, with more and more elderly people needing support.

  • Provide companionship and assistance for elderly people
  • Help with housework, errands, grocery shopping and transportation
  • Provide emotional support
  • Growin market

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Examples of successful businesses:

The smart home business industry is gaining more traction with the rise in demand for home automation and connected devices. The following list includes some of the most successful companies currently in this space:

  • Amazon Echo
  • Google Home Hub
  • August Home
  • Philips Hue
  • IFTTT (If This Then That)
  • Brilliant Smart Home Control Solutions

A Virtual Assistant is a highly-skilled professional that can provide business support from an offsite location. This type of service allows businesses to manage their workload more effectively and efficiently, while saving valuable time and money. The use of a Virtual Assistant would make a great business idea for many reasons, including:

  • Cost-effective and affordable
  • Access to experienced professionals
  • Highly customized services
  • Increased productivity and efficiency
  • Increased customer satisfaction
  • Ability to focus on core business activities
  • Reduced overhead costs

More resources:

A personal chef service offers clients the luxury of having an experienced chef prepare meals tailored to their tastes and dietary needs. This service can be provided at the client's home or in a restaurant setting. The benefits of this business idea are multiple:

  • Higher quality food than can typically be purchased in stores or at restaurants.
  • The ability to provide customized dishes tailored to a client's dietary preferences or allergies.
  • Opportunity to upsell additional meal-planning services, grocery shopping, meal delivery and more.
  • No need for expensive kitchen equipment and staff.
  • The potential for growth as more clients are added to the roster.

A House Cleaning business is a business that offers services to clean homes and other residential spaces. It is an excellent business idea as it offers flexibility and mobility in terms of scheduling, pricing, and clientele. Additionally, the entry cost is relatively low and it has the potential to be highly profitable.

  • Affordable startup costs
  • Highly scalable
  • Flexible work hours
  • Potential for repeat customers
  • Offers a valuable service to customers

Related business ideas:

Home staging is the process of preparing a residential property for sale. It involves redesigning the interior and exterior of a home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging can help buyers visualize how they can make their own home more aesthetically pleasing and profitable. Home staging can be an effective marketing tool and can make a great business idea for entrepreneurs looking to get into the real estate game.

  • Home staging presents a property in its best light, making the listing more appealing to potential buyers.
  • It increases the property’s price, making it easier to sell quickly.
  • It helps buyers recognize the potential of a house and encourages them to put in an offer.
  • It can attract more buyers as well as higher offers.
  • Staged homes often result in fewer contingencies from potential buyers, such as requesting repairs or renovations."

A catering service is a business that provides food and beverage services for events or occasions. It is an ideal business opportunity because of several advantages, such as:

  • It offers flexible hours and the ability to work from anywhere
  • The overhead costs are relatively low
  • Allows you to be creative with your menu options
  • You can work with many people and develop relationships
  • Has great potential for growth in both local and global markets

A Handyman service is a business where skilled tradespeople provide various repair, maintenance and improvement services within the home and outdoors. Handyman services can include things like carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, painting, building and more. By focusing on a variety of services, a handyman can offer a full-service experience for customers who need work done around the house but don't want to hire individual contractors for each job.

  • Handyman services are in demand across all types of households
  • A variety of skill sets needed to provide full service
  • Lower overhead costs and operating expenses
  • The ability to develop relationships with customers
  • The possibility to grow the business to include additional services.

A Grocery delivery service is a business idea that allows customers to shop for groceries online and have them delivered to their home. It would be an especially convenient and popular option for elderly customers or individuals with busy lifestyles who don't have the time to shop in-store or those who prefer to minimize contact and errands due to health concerns. Benefits of a Grocery delivery service include:

  • Convenience – no need to take time out of your day to go to the store.
  • Time savings – you can order from your computer or mobile device in just a few clicks.
  • No need for physical cash – customers can pay for items online, with their credit or debit cards.
  • Delivery is fast and secure – items are delivered right to your door.

Blogging is a way to post online content, usually in the form of written posts, photos, videos, or music. It is a great way to express yourself and to share knowledge with the world. Blogging can make an excellent business idea because it:

  • Enables you to reach a large audience quickly.
  • Is low-cost and easy to manage.
  • Gives you control over content production.
  • Can be used to promote your business and generate leads.
  • Provides an opportunity for customer engagement.

More helpful resources about LLCs:

I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

  • How to Start a Home Automation Business

Also known as a smart home business, a home automation business uses technologies like sensors, Internet and automation control to create a centralized, digital system for homes. Normally, this system helps homeowners control the lighting, home security and HVAC services. It can also power the dryer, dishwasher and entertainment electronics.

A home automation business can also offer consultations and services to homeowners, helping them pick the best automation system for their home. Often, the business installs the system for them.

Learn how to start your own Home Automation Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Home Automation Business Image

Start a home automation business by following these 10 steps:

  • Plan your Home Automation Business
  • Form your Home Automation Business into a Legal Entity
  • Register your Home Automation Business for Taxes
  • Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  • Set up Accounting for your Home Automation Business
  • Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Home Automation Business
  • Get Home Automation Business Insurance
  • Define your Home Automation Business Brand
  • Create your Home Automation Business Website
  • Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your home automation business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

  • What are the startup and ongoing costs?
  • Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Home Automation Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your home automation business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a home automation business.

Expect to pay as much as $25,000 for startup expenses, which includes a beginning product line, insurance and a workshop. As you enter distributor networks, expect to pay less on materials and pre-made products to sell.

What are the ongoing expenses for a home automation business?

Ongoing costs include your shop’s rent, which can be about $3,000 per month for a high-traffic storefront. Variable sourcing costs range wildly as entire systems can be purchased and resold for profit. If you’re going to sell entire systems, however, you’ll save more money by purchasing system components rather than entire systems.

Who is the target market?

Your target market will be homeowners in the upper-middle to upper class. Larger homes are more profitable, as home automation needs are higher. You can market to commercial entities, but you won’t be nearly as profitable.

How does a home automation business make money?

Primarily, a home automation business makes money by selling home automation systems. Whether it’s selling entertainment suites or smart security alarms, the vast majority of a home automation business’ revenue comes from the sale of similar products.

They can, however, make more money by offering direct installations. In these cases, homeowners can be charged by the hour. Or, they can be charged a flat rate. Some home automation businesses offer updates and repairs—for a fee, of course. Other home automation businesses may expand their product line, servicing businesses and apartment complexes.

Clients can be charged between $466 and $2,014 for a home automation system. The gap is large, as is a regular home automation product line. Small components can be sold for as little as $65, whereas high-tech, all-in-one home solutions can be charged at $4,500.

How much profit can a home automation business make?

A successful home automation business can make upwards of $150,000 in profit, annually. The business will need to expand gradually, however, keeping costs low while managing new clients and distribution networks. By handling new customers effectively, taking input to heart and controlling expenses, a home automation business owner can become incredibly profitable.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Source high-quality, reliable smart home products. Once you’ve decided on your core product line, you’ll need to make sure your brand is trusted and prioritized. Write a business plan early, and establish your brand’s sales figure goals. Design and build a website early, too, and consider tapping into the e-commerce market if your business doesn’t need the additional profits from direct installations.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your home automation business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a home automation business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a home automation business location :
  • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
  • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a home automation business.
  • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a home automation business location :
  • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
  • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your home automation business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Home Automation Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Home Automation Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a home automation business

Create a social media campaign, and promote your unique products on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Make a landing page, and utilize your source network to gain partnerships. By creating an Internet marketing circle, you can approach clients from multiple directions.

How to keep customers coming back

Attract customers through home improvement stores, home technology stores and online marketing. Home automation systems are luxury purchases for some, so customer attraction will require a high degree of emotional connection. As for retention, consider implementing an electrical maintenance program. Reach out to previous customers, and notify them of home automation updates. This works rather well if you’re selling automated security systems.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

TRUiC's Startup Podcast

Welcome to the Startup Savant podcast , where we interview real startup founders at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from launch to scale.

Is this Business Right For You?

The home automation business is great for any tech-minded individual who wants to create ongoing relationships with homeowners. A great job for computer gurus, smart-technology-lovers and even HVAC workers, the home automation business is a high-tech job for those who understand the ins and outs of home operation.

Having a background in electrical engineering, programming, design or mechanical engineering helps. Management skills, too, are important. A home automation business owner will need to be a good people person, so as to help clients pick the best system.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a home automation business?

A home automation business must source the many electronics they hope to sell to homeowners. This can include smart fire and flood detectors, smart window dressing controls, smart thermostats, and smart security alarms.

Once they obtain a client, the home automation business delivers the product to the household. Then, they install it. A lot of installations are quick, though some may require an in-depth understanding of household cooling and heating systems. A lot of home automation businesses spend a lot of time on pre-installation planning.

Other day-to-day actions include making financial projections, creating executive summaries, marketing, conducting marketing analysis, and focusing on new services.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful home automation business?

Before starting, you should know what your business’s core products will be. It’s also a good idea to build relationships with different control system companies, like AMX, Crestron, Home Logic, and Elan Home Systems. In the home automation business you’ll need to constantly source parts and system components, so your network matters a lot.

Understanding programming is definitely important, too. Learn C and C++, and learn how different electrical companies manage their distribution channels with different electronics. Similarly, understand how different pricing schemes work. Take a technical training class, and learn how to integrate your skills in a professional environment.

What is the growth potential for a home automation business?

If a home automation business’s planning is effective, it’ll be in store for a lot of growth. Home automation has become incredibly popular, and a lot of home automation businesses are expanding to national levels.

A home automation business owner must be an effective market analyzer, however. If they branch into the e-commerce world, they may need to balance profits from delivered goods while losing money from direct installation services. In general, however, a home automation business can grow quite a bit.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a home automation business?

Establish a pre-launch advertising campaign. Because the home automation business is booming, a solid introduction matters. Even if you’re using a light marketing campaign, it should feature your brand’s very best product line.

How and when to build a team

Consider hiring two to three professionals before launching your business. A home automation business requires a high degree of knowledge about programming, electrical installation and home utility networks. The extra minds will certainly help while problem-solving, and they’ll boost much-needed startup sales.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

  • Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association
  • International Society of Automation
  • Association for Smarter Homes & Buildings

Real World Examples

  • August Home

Further Reading

  • 9 Amazing Home Automation Companies

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

COMMENTS

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